CAG: Rs 2500cr unused, infra gaps in UP’s Ayush services

Lucknow: The CAG flagged serious gaps in UP's Ayush services. The report, tabled in the UP Assembly on Thursday, found gaps in infrastructure, drug production, supply, and manpower despite substantial budget allocations.Covering a period of 2018-19 to 2022-23, the report said that Rs 5,630 crore was allocated for Ayurveda, Rs 684 crore for Unani, and Rs 2,598 crore for homoeopathy. However, of these, Rs 1,728 crore under Ayurveda, Rs 229 crore under Unani, and Rs 615 crore under homoeopathy remained unspent. The unutilised funds were surrendered at the end of the financial years.
Pointing at the infrastructure gaps, the report said: "Of 25 integrated 50-bed hospitals constructed during the period, only 19 were inaugurated by 2021. Several became operational only in 2023 due to delays in essential works. Also, of 1,034 health and wellness centres, 528 lacked basic facilities such as electricity and internet."Similarly, drug manufacturing targets were not met. "State-run pharmacies had the capacity to produce 388 medicines. Approval existed for 130 Ayurvedic and 85 Unani drugs. Yet, on average, only 25 Ayurvedic and 18 Unani medicines were produced annually," the report said.Quality control and supply systems showed weaknesses. According to the report, only 21 districts sent drug samples for testing, though all regional inspectors were mandated to do so. The audit noted that payments were made to firms without large-scale quality checks in some cases. Procurement delays were significant. Ayurvedic purchases worth Rs 55 crore were delayed by 571 days. Unani purchases of about Rs 8 crore saw delays of up to 964 days.