The National Ayush Mission Conclave, a two-day event focused on the health and wellness of the public, commenced with a strong commitment from the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prioritize 'Integrative Health.' Union Cabinet Minister of Ayush and Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the event, while Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, was also present.
The event saw the presence of various dignitaries, including Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State for Ayush, and Health and Ayush Ministers from multiple states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as representatives from Jammu & Kashmir.
"India should lead the world in this field and highlighted the strengthened resolve and efforts of both ministries. Recognizing the strength of India's traditional medicine systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Jamnagar as the WHO-GCTM center, said Sarbananda Sonowal.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya underscored the importance of Integrative Medicine and the need to ensure the health of every citizen of India. He mentioned that both ministries would soon release an "Integrative Health" policy. Dr. Mandaviya also praised the acceptance of India's traditional medicine system worldwide, citing Yoga as a practice embraced by a majority of the Japanese population.
Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of Ayush, highlighted the holistic and integrative approach of Ayush systems, stating that they can significantly contribute to reducing the burden of disease in India. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the advantage of Ayush systems' holistic approach in dealing with primary disease prevention.
Following the inaugural session, a roundtable discussion on strengthening Ayush services through the National Ayush Mission took place. Ministers and senior health officials from participating states and union territories acknowledged the positive impact of Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) on the public health delivery system in India. The discussion also focused on the development of Ayush systems in different states and the employment opportunities they have generated. An overview of the National Ayush Mission was presented by Kavita Garg, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush.
The National Ayush Mission (NAM), the flagship program of the Ministry of Ayush, is actively changing the landscape of health and wellness in states across India with the cooperation of state and union territory governments. The two-day conclave will foster better coordination among stakeholders and strengthen the functioning of Ayush Health and Wellness Centers (AHWCs).
During the conclave, subject matter experts from participating states will engage in discussions concerning various aspects of the National Ayush Mission (NAM). The primary focus will be on improving the efficiency of budget utilization under NAM, establishing institutional mechanisms to enhance the implementation of the scheme, and ensuring a better supply of medicines to Ayush Health Facilities. Additionally, capacity-building initiatives for Ayush practitioners, the upgradation of Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs), the strengthening of the Ayush education ecosystem, and the integration of technology for research and quality assurance in Ayush public healthcare will also be addressed.
The National Ayush Mission, launched in 2014, serves as a flagship program aimed at preserving and promoting India's traditional systems of medicine and integrating them into the mainstream healthcare system. Its objective is to enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of Ayush healthcare services across the country, with Ayush Health Wellness Centers (AHWCs) being a key component of the Government of India's Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The Union Cabinet has approved the operationalization of 12,500 Ayush Health Wellness Centers by upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries or Health Sub-centers through the efforts of State/UT Governments. This will be implemented in a phased manner under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) as a centrally sponsored scheme. As of now, over 8,500 AHWCs have been established throughout India and are actively serving their respective communities.
