CAG Audit Uncovers Critical Shortcomings in Uttar Pradesh's Ayush Healthcare System
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has flagged serious deficiencies in the delivery of Ayush services across Uttar Pradesh. The comprehensive audit report, which was tabled in the state legislative assembly on Thursday, highlights substantial gaps in infrastructure development, drug production capabilities, supply chain management, and manpower deployment.
Substantial Budget Allocations Marred by Poor Utilization
Covering the five-year period from 2018-19 to 2022-23, the audit reveals that despite significant financial allocations, substantial portions of the budget remained unspent and were ultimately surrendered at the conclusion of each financial year. The report details that Rs 5,630 crore was allocated specifically for Ayurveda services, Rs 684 crore for Unani medicine, and Rs 2,598 crore for homoeopathy.
However, the audit found that Rs 1,728 crore under the Ayurveda budget, Rs 229 crore under Unani, and Rs 615 crore under homoeopathy remained completely unutilized. This represents a significant failure in translating budgetary provisions into tangible healthcare improvements for the state's population.
Infrastructure Development Lagging Behind Targets
The CAG report points to serious infrastructure deficiencies that have hampered service delivery. Among 25 integrated 50-bed hospitals constructed during the audit period, only 19 facilities had been inaugurated by 2021. Several of these healthcare institutions became operational only in 2023 due to prolonged delays in completing essential construction works.
Furthermore, the audit examined 1,034 health and wellness centers across the state and discovered that 528 of these facilities lacked basic infrastructure including reliable electricity connections and internet access. These deficiencies directly impact the quality and accessibility of Ayush healthcare services for rural and urban communities alike.
Drug Production and Supply Chain Failures
The report identifies significant shortcomings in pharmaceutical production and distribution systems. State-run pharmacies possessed the technical capacity to manufacture 388 different medicines, with formal approvals existing for 130 Ayurvedic and 85 Unani drugs. Despite this potential, production levels remained critically low, with only 25 Ayurvedic and 18 Unani medicines being produced annually on average.
Quality control mechanisms showed particular weaknesses, with only 21 districts submitting drug samples for mandatory testing despite requirements that all regional inspectors perform this essential function. The audit noted instances where payments were processed for pharmaceutical firms without adequate large-scale quality verification procedures being followed.
Procurement Delays Hampering Service Delivery
Procurement inefficiencies created additional obstacles to effective healthcare delivery. The report documents that Ayurvedic medicine purchases worth approximately Rs 55 crore experienced delays extending to 571 days. Even more concerning, Unani medicine acquisitions valued at around Rs 8 crore faced procurement delays reaching up to 964 days in some instances.
These systemic failures in budget utilization, infrastructure development, drug production, quality control, and procurement processes collectively undermine the effectiveness of Uttar Pradesh's Ayush healthcare framework. The CAG findings suggest that despite substantial financial investments, the intended benefits of traditional medicine systems are not reaching the state's population as planned.
