AYUSHlike

AYUSHlike is a term used in health policy discourse to denote a class of national or regional policy frameworks that emulate the structure and aims of India's AYUSH program, promoting traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine within formal health systems. The term covers modalities such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, and other local or traditional practices. It typically encompasses regulatory oversight, education and accreditation, research and evidence generation, production and quality control, and efforts to integrate traditional therapies into primary health care and public health.

Governance and operation typically involve a centralized authority, ministry, or directorate responsible for setting standards, licensing, and safety. This often includes professional education with standardized curricula, research councils or institutes to evaluate safety and efficacy, pharmacopoeias and manufacturing norms, and pharmacovigilance and adverse-event reporting. Implementation varies by country; some programs support public clinics, educational institutes, and, in some cases, insurance or reimbursement schemes. The aim is to improve access to culturally aligned care, preserve traditional knowledge, and reduce disease burden, while ensuring patient safety and evidence-based practice.

Criticism and challenges frequently focus on the limited and uneven evidence base for certain modalities, risks of regulatory capture or commercialization, difficulties in standardizing traditional therapies, and potential misallocation of resources. Proponents argue that a well-regulated AYUSHlike framework can complement conventional medicine, expand options for patients, and support public health goals when accompanied by rigorous research and transparent governance.