Cabinet approves continuation of National Ayush Mission

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the continuation of the centrally-sponsored National AYUSH Mission (NAM) by three years with an outlay of Rs 2,400 crore.

The scheme is being extended from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020.

According to an official statement, NAM is addressing the gaps in health services by supporting the efforts of state and union territory governments for providing AYUSH health services and education in the country, particularly in far flung areas.

The NAM is being implemented with the objective of providing cost-effective AYUSH services, with a universal access, such as upgradation of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries and co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

"Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), and strengthening institutional capacity at the state level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, state government, ASU&H pharmacies are also the areas under the NAM," said the statement from the AYUSH Ministry.

The expected outcomes of the Mission are improvement in AYUSH education through well-equipped enhanced number of AYUSH educational institutions.

"Improved availability of quality AYUSH drugs by increased number of quality pharmacies and drug testing laboratories coupled with stringent enforcement mechanism and increased awareness and acceptance of the Yoga and Naturopathy as promotive and preventive healthcare systems are also the expected outcomes," said the statement.

--IANS

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