The State Government has decided to launch National Ayush Mission (NAM) with support of the Centre to address health issues in vulnerable and far-flung areas in a more effective manner.
The Union Cabinet had in September 2014 asked States to implement NAM as a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme (CSS). The Union Government has taken aggressive steps and releasing funds to this CSS on a priority basis.
According to sources, the Ministry of Ayush has released funds to all the States, and the Odisha Government has already received Rs 13.22 crore to implement the NAM, which is to run on Centre-State share of 75:25. Nilanjan Sanyal, an Odessa-cadre IAS, is now the Union Ayush Secretary.
The State Government has decided to provide its own share and the mission would be launched on July 31 in the State, said an official of the Health and Family Welfare Department. The Ayush Director will be Mission Director of NAM Odisha, said the officer.
Under this mission, the State Government wants to address gaps in health services by supporting district authorities with more Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) health services and education in the State, particularly in vulnerable and remote areas. Special focus would be given on specific needs of such areas and accordingly higher resources would be allocated to concerned districts’ annual plans.
The NAM would help improve Ayush education through upgraded educational institutions and provide better access to Ayush services by increasing numbers of Ayush hospitals and dispensaries.
The mission would take up a drive to grow more medicinal plants and ensure quality drugs by setting up of more pharmacies and drug laboratories.
Now, three Government Ayurvedic colleges and four Homeopathic colleges are looking after education and training in the State. Similarly, there are nearly 1,200 Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy dispensaries in the State run by the Directorate of Ayush. More focus would be given on yoga under the NAM.
As there there is demand to set up yoga colleges, a yoga university might come under the scheme, said sources.