HAMIRPUR (HP): The age-old homeopathic and ayurvedic systems of medicine and treatment are slowly but surely catching up in Himachal Pradesh. These are gaining popularity, not only in cities and towns but also among the rural folks across the state. These systems are attracting patients suffering from chronic diseases, in large number.
The credit goes to the countless number of conscious and concerted measures taken by the state government to strengthen and equip its Ayush Department. This department has been set up under the Directorate of Health Services to offer people total healthcare under one roof. The holistic approach to treatment has gained both acceptance and lent popularity to the both systems of medicine.
At present, the state has 1252 Ayurvedic health institutions include 1185 Ayurvedic Health Centres, 34 Ayurvedic Hospitals, 14 Homeopathy Health Centres, three Unani Health Centres, four Amchi Hospitals and 12 other health institutions, providing health care to the people. Popularity of these systems can be gauged by the official data of treatment.
According to official data, in the year 2019-20, out of a total 42, 07, 504 patients, 41, 09, 559 out-patients and 97, 945 indoor patients have provided Ayurvedic treatment. According to official during Carona pandemic, the Department of Ayurveda has also distributed free-of-cost Madhushishtiyadi Kashay (Kada) to increase the immunity of people. So far 1.50 lakh packets of this Kada have been distributed and target has been fixed to produce more than 7 lakh packets in coming days.
The attempts made by the state government to give the functioning of the AYUSH department a leg-up and administer it a financial booster dose, the state government has set up Herbal Gardens in Jogindernagar in Mandi district, Neri in district Hamirpur, Rohru in Shimla district and Jungle Jhalera in Bilasdpur district to promote Ayurveda in the state. Different types of medicinal plants are being grown in these herbal gardens which are the major products to prepare different types of medicines for various ailments, says the official.
The official of Ayurveda Department stated that a number of welfare schemes were being implemented in the state by the department. Under medicinal plant cultivation scheme, the department has been providing financial assistance to the farmers in different agro-climatic zones for cultivation of medicinal plants.
Under the National AYUSH Mission, the department is running programs for the prevention of anemia in Theog of District Shimla, Kasauli of District Solan, Karsog of District Mandi, Teesa of District Chamba, Bhoranj of District Hamirpur and Bangana in District Una. The Ayurveda Department is also providing medical insurance benefits through health cards under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Ayurvedic hospitals of the state.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme of the Government of India, it has been approved to upgrade the Health and Family Welfare and Ayurveda Department Centres to Health Welfare Centres, under which pregnancy and child birth care, newborn and child health care, childhood and adolescent health care etc. would be managed. Under this scheme, services of Yoga instructor would also be taken in health welfare centers, which aim to benefit the masses by involving them in yoga activities at the panchayat level.
In the year 2019-20, the Government of India has permitted the Ayurveda Department of to set up 84 health welfare centres and 56 health welfare centres in the year 2020-21. The department has targeted to upgrade 400 Ayurvedic health centres into health welfare centres in the state by the year 2023-24. Funds have been made available for these health welfare centres under the National AYUSH Mission.
The Department has also started School Adoption Programme and 1712 schools have been adopted under this program. In these schools, awareness regarding personal hygiene, daily lifestyle, food nutrition, common diseases and drug abuse through AYUSH has been provided to the students.
During the investors meet held at Dharamsala, 45 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding ayurveda. Through these MoUs, investment of Rs. 1269.25 crore is expected in the state, which would provide employment to 5421 people of the state.
Under the National AYUSH Mission in the state, the Government of India is providing funds for strengthening and upgrading existing AYUSH institutions and to purchase medicines being provided to patients through AYUSH institutions. So far an amount of Rs. 57 crore has been made available to the department by the Ministry of AYUSH.