New Delhi: On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, India announced the world’s first clinical study to scientifically evaluate Ayurveda as an adjunct to standard Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment (ATT), the government said.
The collaborative clinical study between the Department of Biotechnology and the Ministry of Ayush will enrol 1,250 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients across eight institutions to evaluate Ayurveda as an adjunct to standard treatment, focusing on body weight, nutritional outcomes, disease progression, quality of life, safety, and tolerability.
Union MoS for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, said the study reflects the spirit of “whole-of-science,” approach by integrating biotechnology and Ayurveda; “whole-of-government” approach through collaboration between ministries.
DG, CCRAS, Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya said the initiative has progressed through consultations, protocol finalisation, and approvals.
It is aimed to assess how integrative interventions influence recovery and long-term outcomes, the statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology said.
India has adopted an ambitious and accelerated pathway towards TB elimination, strengthening early diagnosis, universal drug susceptibility testing, digital adherence technologies, and patient-centric care under the National TB Elimination Programme, the minister said.
