Allopathic system has its own disadvantages and with growing awareness these disadvantages are coming to light.

So, more and more people are shifting their medicinal requirements from Allopathy to Alternate Medicine. Thus, this is one of the fast emerging fields. The Indian Systems of Medicine - Ayurveda, siddha, Unani and drugless therapies like Yoga and Naturopathy-have been widely practised in India for centuries. Homeopathy, though originated in Germany, has been widely accepted and practised in India. The traditional, centuries-long system combined with modern technological systems and innovations make India, a direct, natural leader in the Alternate Medicine. AYUSH is one of the fast emerging fields, which with time, will expand globally. Already a number of foreigners come to India to avail AYUSH service. Add to them the Indian's who continue to believe in AYUSH more than in Allopathy

The Government, too, realising the need and potential of the systems, formulated for the first time, a separate National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy 2002. The basic objectives of the Policy are to promote good health, expand the outreach and to ensure the affordable AYUSH service to the people, as also to integrate. AYUSH in healthcare delivery systems in the national programmes.

With the rising popularity of Alternate Medicines, it is but natural that there is a growing demand for professionals in the field. And there are a number of colleges that offer courses in AYUSH. The Government has formed the Central Council of Indian Medicine to regulate and practice of AYUSH. Recently, the University Grants Commission also approved a proposal ot start diploma and graduate courses in the pharmacy branch of the Indian Systems of Medicine.

The health care infrastructure under AYUSH available in India consists of 3,845 hospitals with 65,159- bed capacity, 23,630 dispensaries, 439 undergraduate colleges, 96 colleges having Post Graduate Departments, 9,226 licensed manufacturing units and 6.95 lakh registered practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in the country. An outlay of Rs.775 crore has been allocated under the Tenth Five-Year Plan. The Plan allocation for 2004-2005 is rs.181 crore