In a major boost to promote traditional medicinal practices in the Northeast region, Union minister for Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal announced a slew of initiatives his ministry is planning in the region.
Sonowal announced that as many as 1000 new health & wellness centres (HWC), as part of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme, will be opened in the Northeast states for the growth and development of Ayush systems.
The aim of these centres is to provide a holistic wellness model based on principles of Ayush systems of medicine. A total of 12,500 HWC are to be operationalised in the country. To boost the popularity of traditional medicines, the minister announced setting up of 100 Ayush dispensaries under NAM in the Northeast region.
In order to boost the education and training of medicinal experts, financial provision of Rs 70 crore, under NAM support, is to be provided for establishment of a new Ayurvedic College at Dudhnoi in Goalpara, the Union minister announced while addressing the media.
The ministry, led by minister Sarbananda Sonowal, also decided to upgrade the Government Ayurvedic College in Guwahati and develop it as a centre of excellence. A sum of Rs 10 crore as financial grant is to be provided in this regard. All states of Northeast were requested to put up specific proposal to the ministry for opening new educational institutions.
A facilitation centre for semi processing of raw material is going to be opened up in the region. Along with this, it is also envisaged to set up Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR) in Northeast states in collaboration with National Institute of Bio-resources and sustainable development in Imphal, Manipur under Department of Bio-Technology.
The scheme has provision to support joint forest management committees (JFMCs) for value addition, drying, warehousing and augmenting marketing infrastructure.
The Ayush medical facilities under Northeast state governments, central government and colleges will be brought under AHMIS so as to develop digital database of Ayush interventions in various disease management. The Ayush-Health Management Information System (AHMIS) is a comprehensive IT platform to effectively manage all function of health care delivery systems and patient care in Ayush facilities.
