Ensuring Holistic Healthcare through Ayush Institutes

Kamal Kumar

The global health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that ensuring effective universal health care is critically dependent on flexible, affordable, accessible and quality healthcare system. A healthcare system that takes a holistic integrative approach, focused on using traditional health practices, can greatly reduce the burden of secondary and tertiary care through utilisation of infrastructure and human resources. The inauguration of three satellite centers of National Ayush institutes for Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy systems are in line with the vision and mission of the Ministry of Ayush to ensure active engagement/integration of Ayush with our universal healthcare system. This is not only limited to expanding infrastructure but also creating human resources and promotion of research in the traditional medicines systems. The process of mainstreaming of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa (tibetan) and Homoeopathy systems will further get reinforced, as we expand establishment of Ayush Institutes of eminence in different geographic region of the country. These institutes will create a pool of quality human resources and availability of trained Ayush professionals. Through these institutes nearly 400 students would be benefitted and 550 additional beds will be added for patient care. This will enable creation of more tertiary level health care infrastructure in different regions of the country, improve referral system and better cross linkage between primary, secondary and tertiary level health care facilities. It is envisaged that this will further strengthen the research and international collaborations and facilitate the Ayush services being provided to the larger community.

All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa: The All India Institute of Ayurveda situated in Dhargal village of Pernem Taluka in North Goa is envisioned to be a gateway to Ayurveda for Indian and international tourist, generating greater potential for Medical Value Travel. This centre in Goa, being the satellite centre of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Delhi, with its sprawling 50-acre campus, is modelled along the same lines to offer preventive, diagnostic and tertiary healthcare facilities. The Goa centre will also offer academic courses at undergraduate, post graduate and Ph.D levels including 12 undergraduate courses already offered at AIIA - New Delhi, as well as new courses including Sharir Rachna and Agada Tantra (Toxicology). Equipped with 250 bedded hospital facility, having ICU and emergency management unit, it will also cater well to quality healthcare needs of the local population. The institute boasts of an academic block, a hostel, a convenience centre, a sports facility, and a dietary centre. It also offers auxiliary services such as Panchkarma cottages with open area landscaping, a playground and an herbal garden for the holistic well-being of the patients

National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH), Delhi: The National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) at Narela, Delhi is a satellite Institute of National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush. It is the first of its kind to be established in northern India to popularise Homoeopathy and to provide health care facilities, especially in Homoeopathy. It will produce high-quality medical professionals in different specialties of Homoeopathy. The 7 departments of the institute will provide post graduate & doctoral courses in multiple disciplines of the Homoeopathic system of medicine under Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. The institute will function as an international collaboration centre for global promotion, defining health care services and research in the Homoeopathic system of medicine. It has been envisioned that the institute will go a long way in establishing benchmark standards in education, healthcare and research in Homoeopathy. The main focus will be on fundamental aspects of drug development, quality control, safety evaluation and scientific validation of Homoeopathy medicines and practices. It has an attached 100 bedded hospital for providing high-end care treatment through Homoeopathy. The hospital has outpatient department and inpatient department along with operation theatres, labour room and investigation facilities like, USG, X-Ray, Echocardiograph, ECG, PFT, pathology and biochemistry labs, and ambulance facilities, etc. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Ayush has worked in popularising India's traditional medicine not only across the country but around the globe. The Ayush institutes of national prominence both in patient care and clinical research are working towards sustaining excellence in curative, preventive, promotion and rehabilitative aspects of healthcare. These three institutes are committed to accord highest priority to rejuvenate our traditional medicinal practices as per their strength for the benefit of people to avail benefits that ensure a better quality of life

National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad: The upcoming National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) at Kamla Nehru Nagar in Ghaziabad, UP is a satellite institute of NIUM, Bengaluru and will be the first-of-its-kind to be established in northern India. It will have 14 departments and provide postgraduate and doctoral courses in various disciplines of Unani medicine. Having 200 bedded hospital facility, the institute will also focus on fundamental aspects of drug development, quality control, safety evaluation and scientific validation of Unani medicine and practices. It will establish benchmark standards in education, healthcare and research and will also function as an international collaboration centre for global promotion and research in Unani medicine. The institute will have a pivotal role in facilitating bilateral and multilateral collaboration with universities/research organisations of international repute.

(The author is a media professional associated with Ministry of AYUSH. He can be reached at kamalkumar112011@gmail.com)

Views expressed are personal.