Mandaviya inaugurates Integrative Medicine Centre of Ayurveda at Safdarjung Hospital

New Delhi, February 9 (PIB): Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of Ayush, SarbanandaSonowal, jointly inaugurated Integrative Medicine Centre of All India Institute of Ayurveda  (AIIA) at Safdarjung Hospital here recently.

This Centre will provide holistic treatment to patients. The Centre will be crucial in providing services like Panchakarma therapies & concomitant medicines which will provide a promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative therapy. The Centre will be key in developing integrated standard protocols of patient care and spreading awareness among patients about a healthy lifestyle. Services like Specialty OPD, Panchakarma Therapy, Free Ayurvedic Medicine Dispensary, and Dietary consultation will be offered here.

 

“Integrative medicine is aimed at harnessing the potential of India’s rich heritage and medical knowledge, along with using modern advancements, in allopathy. Both traditional and modern medical practices would help in providing better avenues of health and wellness. It is, thus, the need of the hour that different medical systems must not compete but complement each other. Only then can we ensure wellbeing of our citizens and further help in achieving health for all”, said DrMandaviya.

 

Union Health Minister also highlighted the importance of holistic healthcare in the growth story of India. He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,the country has finally connected health with its development story and citizens must remain aware about their health which in turn is crucial for wealth creation.

He further added that a country can only develop when its citizens are healthy. Reiterating the government’s dedication to reach grassroots level and creating last mile delivery of healthcare services, he stated that the health and wellness programmes are being run at more than 1,56,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) across the country. 

“India has achieved the target of opening more than 1.56 lakh HWCs before 31st December 2022 which are turning out to be crucial in providing various types of services to our citizens, especially for wellness, yoga and other practices”, he added.

He emphasized that the Government has decided to open such Integrative Medicine Centres at all government medical establishments, especially all AIIMS in the country as opening such centres will help in initiating co-location of practitioners of Indian system and modern medicine, thus harmonising both medical systems and providing joint multidisciplinary care to the patients.

Emphasizing the significance of this Integrative approach, Dr.Mandaviya said that stakeholders like health sector experts, private medical sector are also pushing forward for this integrative medicine approach.

Highlighting India’s stature in popularizing traditional practices, he brought attention to global acceptance of India’s integrated approach. He said that today, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global counterparts are appreciating India’s efforts in mainstreaming and streamlining different medicinal systems. 

The Union Health Minister congratulated the hospital for this new Centre and was hopeful that the staff would perform their duties diligently. Appreciating the rapid strides made by the institute, he said, “It is a matter of pride that the country is moving towards holistic healthcare and integrative medicine is a key step in this goal.”

Later, Dr BharatiPravinPawar explained the significance of Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Unani medical systems that have grown especially due to the challenges of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), multidrug-resistant diseases, lifestyle disorders, long term diseases. She said that Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are working in close coordination with stakeholders. She also lauded the efforts of Safdarjung Hospital and hoped that with this Integrative Medicine Centre, it will act as an example for other such Centres to follow.

Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary (AYUSH), Dr AtulGoel, Director General of Health Services, Prof.TanujaNesari, Director AIIA, Dr B L Sherwal, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital, along with senior officials from Ministry, faculty and staff of Safdarjung Hospital were also present at the event.