The AYUSH Department is planning a minor facelift for Government Ayurvedic Hospitals with a view to putting them on par with the posh private hospitals.
AYUSH Commissioner K.P. Srivasuki, who was here to launch the reimbursement of medical expenses scheme for government employees at the Sri Gayatri Ayurvedic Multi-speciality Centre, told The Hindu that the government had, in principle, agreed to sanction grants in the next financial year to improve hygiene and sanitation in all Government Ayurvedic Hospitals.
The ambience in the hospitals, particularly toilets, would be improved with better lighting facilities. He said there were eight teaching hospitals — three ayurvedic, four homoeopathy and one Unani — in the State. The department also had under its jurisdiction 10 mini hospitals with bed strength between 10 and 20 and 1,039 dispensaries. He said an effective, alternative plan would be implemented for proper maintenance of sanitation and hygiene in the AYUSH hospitals. Outsourcing would also be considered for maintenance of sanitation, he said.
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The Commissioner said additional posts of female and male Panchakarma assistant would be created in the three ayurvedic hospitals. A post of Sanskrit lecturer would be created in the three ayurvedic colleges on a temporary basis and would be made permanent later, he said.
A proposal for setting up 10 Naturopath and Yoga centres in the State was pending with the Central AYUSH Department. One such centre would be established in every district, Mr. Srivasuki said.
“Yoga will be introduced as a subject, just like physical training, in all government schools once the Naturopath and Yoga Centres become functional,” he said.
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