In sync with the emphasis placed by Narendra Modi Government on Yoga and wellness, the Ayurveda department of Uttarakhand is planning to open many such centres in the State. The department at present operates 38 Panchkarma centres and 11 Yoga and wellness centres in the state.
The director of the Ayurveda, Anand Swarup said the department has sent a proposal to the Union Government for setting up 126 wellness centres and homeopathy centres. As per the proposal 103 wellness centres and 23 homeopathy centres would be opened in the State. These centres would be in addition to 156 health and wellness centres (allopathic) of medical health and family welfare department.
The Union Government would provide a budget of Rs 15 lakh per centre for these centres. The Budget would have Rs 7 lakh under recurring and Rs 8 lakh under non recurring heads. For setting up health and wellness centres of Ayurveda, the Union Government has set up a condition that they should be at least 10 km away for the such centres of Allopathic medicine.
The department has also sent a proposal to the State Government for recruiting 112 Panchkarma specialists for these centres
Anand Swarup said that these centres would have Ayurveda doctor, Yoga instructor; Panchkarma specialist and Homeopathic doctor under one roof. A small Ayurveda lab would also be part of the centre.
Expert opine that the by setting up these health and wellness centres the Government intends to reduce burden on the health services offered by medical health and family welfare department.
They are of the view that since major percentage of the diseases have their origin in the life style, these centres can play a vital role in improving the health of people.
To capitalise on its potential, the Uttarakhand government is organising a ‘health and wellness summit’ in April this year.