World Homoeopathy Day: India’s Role in Alternative Medicine

1. Global Observance: World Homoeopathy Day, marked annually on April 10, commemorates Dr. Samuel Hahnemann’s birth, celebrating homoeopathy as the world’s second-largest medical system.
2. India’s Symposium: In 2025, India hosts its largest homoeopathy symposium in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, featuring research, discussions, and a major industry exhibition.
3. Healthcare Reach: Over 100 million Indians rely on homoeopathy, supported by 3.45 lakh registered doctors, 277 hospitals, and 8,593 dispensaries nationwide.
4. Educational Framework: India has 277 homoeopathy colleges, including 197 undergraduate and 77 combined UG/PG institutes, training future practitioners under the Ministry of AYUSH.
5. Research Push: The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) operates 35+ research centres, advancing evidence-based practices and scientific validation.
6. Regulatory Reform: The National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), established under the 2020 Act, replaced the 1973 Act to modernize education and practice standards.
7. Medicine Quality: The Pharmacopoeia Commission (PCIM&H) ensures high-quality homoeopathic drugs, with 1,117 official monographs standardizing remedies.
8. Infrastructure Strength: India’s homoeopathy ecosystem includes 384 pharmaceutical industries and 8,697 AYUSH hospital beds, ensuring widespread access.
9. Legislative Evolution: The 1973 Homoeopathy Central Council Act laid the foundation, but the 2020 NCH Act introduced transparent, research-driven governance.
10. Global Leadership: India’s robust homoeopathy network positions it as a leader in holistic healthcare, balancing tradition with modern scientific approaches.

Glossary

• Homoeopathy: A medical system based on “like cures like,” using diluted substances to treat symptoms.
• AYUSH: Ministry overseeing Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy in India.
• NCH: National Commission for Homoeopathy, regulating education and practice since 2020.
• CCRH: Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, driving research and evidence-based practice.
• Pharmacopoeia: Standardized guidelines for drug preparation and quality control.