There has been an increase in the number of people opting for ayurvedic treatment this year in the State, said Department of AYUSH director G.N. Sreekantaiah.
Speaking at a conference of ayurveda doctors organised by the Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala here on Sunday, Mr. Sreekantaiah said close to 45 lakh people in Karnataka opt for AYUSH treatment every year.
“This year, there has been a 15 per cent increase in this number. The AYUSH Department caters to 12.5 per cent of (general) patients in the State through 659 dispensaries and a couple of hospitals,” he said.
Importance
He added that the Government was giving ample importance to the development of AYUSH and had promised support to the department in the pre-budget meeting.
Earlier, speaking after inaugurating the conference, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the Government was giving high priority to the health sector, including the development of Ayurveda. He cited the examples of the establishment of a 100-bed Panchakarma Hospital in Mysore and a Government Ayurveda College in Shimoga.
“Ayurvedic medicine is India's gift to the mankind. It is a useful, natural system of medicine. Karnataka's contribution to this system is through the Western Ghats, which is a treasure trove of medicinal plants,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, K.K. Vasudevan, director, Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, appealed to the Chief Minister to grant reimbursement facility for ayurvedic treatment as well. E.T. Neelakantan Mooss, group partner, Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, was present.
