New Delhi: In a move that will go a long way in boosting the Indian alternate medicines,  the Government has ambitious plans to provide the Ayush services in at least 12,500 health and wellness centres under the Ayushmaan Bharat--Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna across the country.

Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH after inauguration of the Conference of AYUSH/Health Ministers of States/UTs said here “at least 12,500 health and wellness centres need to be identified across the country for rendering AYUSH services to the people at grass-root level with special reference to preventive health care.

“We look forward to an effective integration in the National progress related to health. Research Councils under Ministry of AYUSH are conducting National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) in states.

While the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences is conducting NPCDCS programme in Surendra Nagar District in Gujarat; Bhilwara  in  Rajasthan and in Gaya, Bihar, the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy is implementing the programme in Darjeeling in West Bengal and Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh.  

The results are encouraging and would be scaled up, the Minister said.

In view of greater acceptance of the aurveda medicines, the Government’s other premier research agencies like CSIR and DRDO too have come forward in developing herbal drugs respectively like BGR-34 to tackle diabetes and Leukoskin for treatment of white patches. Both ayurveda drugs are being sold by the AIMIL Pharmaceuticals from Delhi.

Rajiv Kumar Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog said that AYUSH deserves equal recognition and patronage as is enjoyed by the modern system of medicine. “Holistic nature of AYUSH systems need to be recognized nurtured and proliferated in the interest of the health of the mankind. He emphasized on role of regulatory bodies is critical in maintaining the quality and standards of AYUSH systems and we need to have a robust regulatory system for AYUSH drugs and education.