AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Industry in India - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

Market Overview

AYUSH and alternative medicine industry in India is expected to register a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period.

In the context of COVID-19, the market for alternative medicines, like Ayurveda, has been increasing due to the increasing demand for various ayurvedic products to boost immunity. As per a report published in August 2020, since March, the demand for honey has gone up 45%, chyawanprash by 85%, and turmeric by 40% in ayurvedic stores. The interest in these products has mostly been fueled by the recommendations from the Ministry of AYUSH to fight COVID-19.

The system of alternative medicines in India consists of Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and homeopathy (AYUSH). Due to the abundance of ancient scientific knowledge, India is considered the hub for alternative medicines, like Unani, Ayurveda, Siddha, and homeopathy. The market currently is experiencing a surge in demand for AYUSH and alternative medicines in India, owing to the growing awareness about the effectiveness and efficacy of traditional systems of medicine, coupled with increasing initiatives by the government to support these systems and rising R&D. In September 2020, the Parliament of India passed two bills to improve access to quality and affordable medical education by ensuring the availability of adequate and high-quality homeopathy and other AYUSH medicines across the country.

Additionally, in August 2020, the Gujarat health department reported that they had distributed the homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30, as prophylaxis treatment to approximately 3.48 crore people, which is more than half of the Gujrat's population since March 2020, after the COVID-19 outbreak. These medicines are cost-effective as compared to other synthetic products. At present, India is also one of the top exporters of alternative medicines in the world. Major export destination includes the United States and European countries, like Germany and France. The government of India is continuously supporting the industry with investments in scientific research in AYUSH, building the necessary infrastructure and regulatory framework to regulate this system of medicine. However, one of the major factors hindering the growth of the Indian AYUSH and alternative medicine market is the general perception of the treatment as a secondary source of medication.

Scope of the Report

AYUSH signifies the combination of an alternative system of medicine, which was earlier known as the Indian system of medicine. AYUSH includes Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and homeopathy. The objective of AYUSH is to promote medical pluralism and to introduce strategies for mainstreaming the indigenous systems of medicine. In India, at the Union Government level, AYUSH activities are coordinated by the Department of AYUSH, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Most of these medical practices originated in India and its neighboring countries, which were adopted in India over time. The AYUSH and alternative medicine industry in India is segmented by type (ayurvedic medicine, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, and other types). The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.

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Key Market Trends

Ayurveda to Dominate Market Share

Ayurvedic medicine was originated in India and has been around in clinical usefulness for the past many decades. The segment is driven by a rising initiative by the government to support ayurvedic medicine in India coupled with the increasing adoption of these systems of medicine around the world. In 2017, the Indian government passed the National Health Mission and National Health Policy-2017 for promoting and strengthening the ayurvedic sector, including financial support, including infrastructure development, and supply of medicines to the dispensaries and hospitals in the states.

Additionally, in November 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) selected India to set up a traditional medicine center to strengthen research, training, and awareness of Ayurveda. After the announcement, the Indian government inaugurated two Ayurveda institutions, the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar (Gujarat), and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur. Additionally, the government is focusing on R&D and is fueling market growth. For instance, in January 2020, IIT Delhi and the All India Institute of Ayurveda signed an MoU to study the therapeutic benefits of herbal formulations and wellness. The government planned seven collaborations focusing on various Ayurvedic formulations and for the next two years. Hence, owing to all of these developments, the market studied is anticipated to have a positive growth over the forecast period.

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