Rohit Shishodia

India’s Ministry of Ayush has launched a toll free number 14443, a dedicated community support helpline, to provide Ayush-based approaches and solutions for the challenges raised by Covid-19. The helpline is operational pan-India from 6 am to 12 midnight-all seven days of a week. The helpline was launched on May 21, 2021.

Experts from different streams of Ayush including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani and Siddha would be available to address queries of the general masses. They experts would not only be providing counselling and feasible remedies to the patients but would also guide them about the availability of nearby Ayush facilities.

“The experts would also be suggesting post Covid-19 rehabilitation and management approaches to the patients. The helpline is IVR (Interactive Voice Response) equipped and currently available in Hindi and English languages,” said the ministry.

The helpline will initially take 100 calls simultaneously and the capacity would be increased in future, as per requirements. The effort is supported by the NGO Project StepOne.

The ministry has stressed that Ayush systems are among the oldest living medical systems used for health and wellbeing and are formally recognised in the country.

“The use of these systems has increased during the current pandemic due to their unique approaches for strengthening host defense. These are found useful as effective, safer, conveniently accessible, and affordable prophylaxis in the management of Covid-19,” added the ministry.

The ministry has informed that two potential Polyherbal formulations namely Ayush-64, an Ayurvedic formulation developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, and KabasuraKudineer of Siddha system, have been found effective in the management of mild to moderate Covid-19 conditions.