GoI approves Rs 72 cr J&K’s ‘Annual Ayush Action Plan’

Srinagar, Oct 14: In a major thrust to AYUSH based healthcare services, the union government has approved Rs 72 crore State (J&K) Annual Action Plan (SAAP) under the National Ayush Mission.
The Union Ministry of Ayush has asked the Executive Committee of J&K Ayush Society, which is headed by Secretary to the government, Health and Medical Education department, to ensure timely implementation of the proposed action plan, official sources told Rising Kashmir.
According to the official figures, in the last one year 29.92 Lakh Patients have been provided Ayush consultation since April 2021.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Director AYUSH J&K Dr Mohan Singh their proposed action plan 2022-23 stands sanctioned by the ministry.
“We are looking for a sustained drug supply chain, improved Ayurveda therapies, promotion of medicinal plants and upgradation of traditional dispensaries into Ayush health and Wellness Centers among others, in its next action plan,” he said.
Dr Singh said 317 Ayush dispensaries have already been upgraded to AYUSH Health & Wellness centres as per the guidelines of Ministry of AYUSH, and they have already been made operational.
At these Wellness centers, Dr Singh added, the Herbal Gardens have already been established besides the installation of IT equipment, space for diagnostics and Yoga centres.
While the work on five 50 bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals at Kishtwar, Kathua, Kupwara, Kulgam and Samba, is currently ongoing, another 44 Ayush Dispensaries with estimated cost of Rs 21.89 Crore approved under NABARD/Capex have been completed and made functional.
According to the Director, they have already engaged with different departments like Tourism regarding Ayush specialised therapies in hotels and Ayush wellness centers at various tourist spots, but it is the time to look beyond that.
“In the new action plan, there are some dire gaps that need to be filled like utilization of Yoga instructors, public health outreach activities, upgradation of dispensaries into Health and Wellness Centers,” he said.
The Department also is eyeing for large scale cultivation of medicinal plants and for that they need to engage prospective farmers.
“The Nurseries are being established in technical collaboration with Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-Kashmir and J&K Forest Research Institute,” the senior official added.
The Directorate of Ayush is currently providing Ayush Health care through two 60 bedded Tertiary care Hospitals Viz Govt Ayurvedic Hospital Jammu & Govt Unani Hospital Shalteng Srinagar, 31 Ayush units collocated in District/Sub District Hospitals and 573 Dispensaries/Ayush Health& Wellness Centres.