Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates 6 New Buildings of North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy at Shillong

During the inauguration ceremony, Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the vital role of integrative medicine in the country's healthcare solutions delivery system. He expressed confidence that the investment made by the government in these new buildings would strengthen efforts to rejuvenate traditional medicine in the region. In addition, the Minister announced that NEIAH would soon commence ambulance services, enhancing healthcare accessibility for the local population.

Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the significance of the north-eastern region in traditional medicine and expressed that the northeast is blessed by Mother Earth, whose natural bounty has aided generations in their healing process. He further mentioned their aim to continue this journey to benefit even more individuals and enhance their quality of life. He also stated that Prime Minister Modi's vision is to develop an effective and efficient healthcare delivery system. He mentioned that the six new buildings inaugurated that day would play a crucial role in NEIAH's pursuit of this objective by building research capacity and establishing a scientific base for traditional medicine.

NEIAH has experienced steady growth in patient numbers, with individuals witnessing improved results at the hospital. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the hospital's outpatient clinics served 52,088 patients, while 504 patients received inpatient care for healing and recovery. In Ayurveda, NEIAH's OPD clinics catered to 36,683 patients, with 482 patients admitted to the IPD section. The Homoeopathy department recorded footfall from 19,397 OPD patients and 22 IPD admissions. NEIAH also conducted 35 health camps and 4 Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs during the same period.

The six new buildings comprise a boys' hostel with a capacity for 104 occupants, a girls' hostel with a capacity for 104 occupants, eight units of Type III quarters, six units of Type IVA quarters, seven units of Type IVB cum Director's Residence, a senior resident hostel with 25 units, and a guest house with 19 rooms and 2 suites. These buildings were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 60.16 crores.

The event saw the presence of esteemed guests, including Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Government of Meghalaya, and AL Hek, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Government of Meghalaya. Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof(Dr) Nalin Mehta, Director of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), and Dr. Neeta Mahesekar, Director of NEIAH, also attended the event.

NEIAH has already enrolled in six undergraduate batches in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS). The number of students admitted per batch has increased from 50 in 2016-17 to the current intake of 63. These courses are affiliated with North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya.

The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) is an independent institute operating under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. Its primary objective is to provide healthcare services in the field of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy to the people residing in the Northeast Region and Sikkim. NEIAH consists of one Ayurvedic college, one Homoeopathy college, and affiliated hospitals. The Ayurvedic hospital has a capacity of 60 beds, while the Homoeopathic hospital has 20 beds.

The hospitals located on the NEIAH campus are well-equipped with various amenities, including private wards, a labor room, an operation theatre, a yoga center, a physiotherapy unit, and a Panchkarma unit. In addition, the institute offers a range of diagnostic services such as ECG, USG, X-ray, laboratories, and Nadi Tarangani.

It also provides comprehensive outpatient services with 7 Ayurveda OPDs and 5 Homoeopathy OPDs. Moreover, the institute has a dedicated inpatient department with 60 beds for Ayurveda and 20 beds for Homoeopathy. The entire NEIAH facility spans across an expansive 20-acre area.

(Source: PIB)