SRINAGAR NOV 21: The Ayush sector has received a major boost with the upgradation of over 450 Standalone Ayush Dispensaries to AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres in Jammu and Kashmir.
The upgradation of the health sector has been a top-most priority of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration.
Official documents reveal that over 500 projects worth Rs 7000 crores have been taken up to strengthen the health sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Similarly, 456 Standalone Ayush Dispensaries have been upgraded to AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres under the National Ayush Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.
The budgetary provisions under the National Ayush Mission according to official figures have increased from Rs 12.00 Crores in 2018-19 to Rs 72.00 Crores in 2023-24. Under the Medicinal Plants sector three nurseries of Medicinal Plants are being established at Bhaderwah, Doda (High Altitude), Gurez Bandipora (High Altitude) and Samba (Sub-tropical) J&K for the generation of Quality Planting Material for Medicinal Plants for further distribution to Farmers/Growers.
An official said, “The Ayush Health and Wellness centres offer extensive primary Ayush healthcare services, encompassing diagnostics, screening, determination of Prakriti, therapeutic and wellness yoga sessions, basic Panchkarma/regimenal therapies for rehabilitation, IEC & public health outreach programs, school health initiatives, and the promotion of the medicinal plants sector in the region.”
The official said for the last eight months over 33 lakh patients have availed various Ayush Consultation in AYUSH health and wellness centres.
“Footfall and demand of Ayush services have increased manifolds by new initiatives of Ayush by intersectoral convergence under Ayushman Bhava campaign,” the official added.
Programs like Anemia Mukt Bharat, Non-Communicable Diseases Mukt Bharat, Promotion of Millets under the Eat Right Campaign and Nasha Mukt Bharat are regularly being organized by Ayush Staff. Recently 05 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres of Jammu and Udhampur Districts were awarded NABH Accreditation in a ceremony organized by Ministry of Ayush, GoI at Panchkula, Haryana. The official said J&K is the only UT in the country to provide free universal health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family, since its implementation from December 2020. 108 Jan Aushadhi Centres have also been dedicated towards the welfare of the public since April last year.
