Kolkata: In a further boost to the traditional method of treatment, the Bengal government has started construction for setting up an integrated hospital dedicated to AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homeopathy) medications in West Midnapore. A 50-bed integrated AYUSH hospital is coming up on a few acres of land at Midnapore town, at an estimated cost of around Rs 26.5 crore. All traditional methods of treatment under AYUSH would be available at the hospital. The Union Ministry of AYUSH would also provide financial assistance to the state government.
According to the initial plans, all the modern facilities would be available in the AYUSH hospital, which is expected to be completed within two years. It would be developed as one of the finest AYUSH hospitals in the country. Doctors from both the state and outside will be invited to treat patients here. The state government has also decided to open separate units of AYUSH in the subsidiary healthcare centres in all the districts of the state. In the districts like Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, West Midnapore, Nadia, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas, AYUSH units have already been set up.
Adequate number of medical officers will also be recruited in all the subsidiary health care centres and adequate medicines are being made available in all the units, so that poor patients can avail them free of cost.
The Centre has also been providing funds to the state government under the National AYUSH Mission. The Mamata Banerjee government has brought a slew of changes in the overall health infrastructure of the state. As a part of it, AYUSH was given utmost importance, so that traditional modes of treatment can be replicated here. Following the instruction of the Chief Minister, a separate department was formed to promote and accelerate various AYUSH projects in the state. It can be mentioned here that the Chief Minister had inaugurated a similar hospital in Alipurduar a few months ago. The state government has laid stress on the development of AYUSH, as this form of medication has a significant role in delivering health care to the masses. The main motto of the new initiative is to spread the oldest and traditional forms of treatment across Bengal. One of the main reasons behind the promotion of AYUSH in the state is its cost effective methods of treatment and hence, it would be advantageous for the people who are economically challenged. Dr Sumit Sur, president of National Ayurveda Students and Youth Association, said: “National AYUSH Mission has been contributing towards the development of AYUSH infrastructure in the country. An integrated AYUSH hospital must be set up at each block of the state.”
Source: http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/construction-of-integrated-ayush-hospital-underway-in-west-midnapore-292035