SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated a total of Rs 1.91 crore over the last two years under the Centre’s programme to strengthen and modernize AYUSH pharmacies and State Drug Testing Laboratories.
The funding, spread across two financial years—Rs 1.05 crore in the first year and Rs 86.29 lakh in the next—will be used to upgrade laboratory infrastructure, procure modern equipment, and enhance quality control for traditional medicines in the Union Territory.
The initiative aims to ensure higher standards for medicinal drug testing and improve the efficacy and safety of AYUSH formulations. Officials noted that the upgraded facilities will not only support local herbal medicine initiatives but also reinforce the region’s overall pharmaceutical ecosystem.
As part of the national programme, which has a total outlay of Rs 40.13 crore, several states are set to receive funding to modernize their AYUSH pharmacies and drug testing laboratories. The scheme covers activities such as strengthening laboratory capabilities, upgrading equipment, standardizing processes, and ensuring compliance with national quality benchmarks.
Health and AYUSH officials in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the allocation, emphasizing that it will boost research and development in traditional medicine, improve patient access to safe herbal treatments, and contribute to the broader goal of promoting India’s indigenous healthcare systems.
The project also aligns with the Union Government’s broader objective of modernizing healthcare infrastructure across the country while supporting evidence-based approaches to traditional medicine.
