SHILLONG: Union Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik has said the Centre will promote traditional healing methods under AYUSH.
Addressing reporters on Sunday on the scope of traditional medicines and local healers in Meghalaya, Naik said, “We are trying to take the formula from them (tradition healers). We are asking them to join together. It is holistic and very effective formulae are with them.”
Naik informed that the Ministry of AYUSH will take the formula from the traditional healers to the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences research centre.
The minister was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for Phase II of North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH) at Mawdiangdiang on Sunday.
He said development of AYUSH in the North East will motivate the rural populace to cultivate and preserve valuable medicinal plants available in the region.
“AYUSH sector is one of the prospective areas for healthcare, medical tourism and international trade for cultivation, processing and marketing of medical plants based on available flora and fauna in the climatic condition of the region which is similar to South East Asia,” Naik said while stressing that AYUSH will help promote and preserve traditional medicine.
The minister informed that the institute will start Panchakarma technician training as a skill development programme.
Claiming Panchakarma to be one of the most effective healing modalities, Naik said this combined therapy has the ability to heal critical diseases.
Asked further, he said people are eager to take Ayurveda medicine even to treat cancer.
Naik informed that the Government of India has started granting cheaper medicines and 400 medicinal shops will be given to all states.
“Price rise is only for private manufacturers. The government is giving free of cost medicine to the state government. We are funding the state for the purchase of Ayurveda medicines,” he said.
On the other hand, admitting that there are vacancies in the AYUSH departments, he said the state has been directed to look into the matter.
“It is the responsibility of the state government to employ them,” he said.
”We are funding the AYUSH mission and are giving fund to the state and the state has to take decision,” he added.
Commenting on NEIAH, Naik said enrolment of more than 60 per cent students from the North East indicates a new dawn of development in AYUSH in the region.
Stating that the Centre is committed to developing NEIAH as a centre of excellence, he said Phase II will address issues of residential accommodation for students and doctors.
