New Delhi: The Ministry of AYUSH has established a total of 155 new colleges in three academic years- 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, out of which 119 colleges have been opened in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Uttarakhand. Ayush means Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
According to data from the Ministry of AYUSH, in the last three years, UP alone has opened 43 AYUSH colleges, while with 32 new AYUSH colleges, Gujarat stands second in the list. Karnataka has got 18, Maharashtra has got 16 and Uttarakhand has got 10 new Ayush colleges.
A section of experts said that the reason behind the opening of the most AYSUH colleges in UP is due to the state’s “backward modern health system”. The lack of modern health services infrastructure has forced individuals to turn to alternative medicines. Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital’s former senior resident doctor, Dr Nitin Kaur said: “The utility of alternative medicines has not yet been proved. We are not sure how useful these medicines are even in cases of simple viral fever; So in my opinion, the backwardness of the modern health system has helped in the development of AYUSH centres in many pockets. “
“If we ensure proper modern medical facilities to our citizens, I am sure no one will opt for alternative medicines. Although Ayurveda has some good ways of curing the disease, most methods of alternative medicine are struggling with poor standards, ”said Kaur.
However, Hitesh Chandra of AYUSH Center at RML Hospital has questioned the logic of experts who link the development of AYUSH colleges to “backward health facilities”. “States like Bihar, Assam and Odisha are the most backward states in healthcare, but these states have not shown any interest in alternative medicines. According to AYUSH figures, not a single college was opened in Assam, Bihar and Odisha in the last three years.
“India has a tradition of medicine through alternative medicines, and there is nothing wrong in preserving and promoting our centuries-old traditions of health care. We hope that the central government is able to set up at least one AYUSH centre in every hospital in the country, with a separate system of AYUSH colleges.
Statistics from the Ministry of AYUSH show that out of total 155 AYUSH colleges, 105 are Ayurveda, 39 Homeopathy and nine Unani. A total of 40 new proposals are awaiting approval of the Ministry of AYUSH.
At present, there are 622 Aayush colleges, of which 338 are Ayurveda and 201 Homeopathy colleges. Ayush colleges are approved by the ministry only after meeting the minimum standard requirements such as the required number of employees.
The Ministry of AYUSH was constituted on 9 November 2014 to ensure optimal development and dissemination of AYUSH systems of health services. Earlier, it was known as the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM & H), formed in March 1995 and renamed as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYHH). Was placed in November 2003. For the development of education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
