Centre selects 6 states for AYUSH project

Six states, including Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, have been selected by the Centre for a pilot project to offer treatment for non-communicable diseases under the Indian medicine systems, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yasso Naik said here today.
Under the project facilities would be set up in every district of select states to take up screening for identifying people suffering from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer etc and provide treatment under AYUSH (Aurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), he said.
Inaugurating 'Kasyapa Ayurvedic and Therapeutic Yoga Research Centre' here, Naik said the proposed facility would have all Indian traditional medicinal systems for providing an integrated treatment in which Yoga will be common along with any one of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha or Homeopathy suitable for curing the disease.

Besides, these facilities would also take up treatment of select chronic diseases. For diseases not covered by them, the patients would be referred to Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
Naik said his ministry has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi Rs 2,500 crore in addition to the budgetary allocation this year to improve AYUSH facilities in a big way to cope with the increased demand for traditional Indian medicine systems and also expand facilities in rural areas.
There was good demand from people abroad for traditional medicine system, he said pointing that about 30-35 per cent of the spas offering these facilities were occupied by foreigners.

"We have MoUs with 20 countries for promoting AYUSH while 25 Chairs are functioning worldwide taking various activities related to ancient Hindu traditional medicinal systems," he said.
Fifteen researchers from the US had also come to the country for research on treatment for cancer through Ayurveda, he said explaining the growing demand for AYUSH across the globe.
To cope with demand for AYUSH, the government decided to provide financial support to those including individuals, institutions and NGOs, taking up herbs and medicinal plants cultivation.