Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that medicinal plants would be set up across the country at a cost of Rs. 650 crores under the aegis of the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Department .
Speaking at the valedictory function of the AROGYA fair in Patna on Wednesday, Mr. Azad informed that the plants would be established over an area of 80,000 hectares, the benefits of which would be accrued to States like Bihar. “While States in South India had taken big strides in the private health sector, regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have lagged behind in this respect,” said Mr. Azad, while exhorting the private sector to participate with full vigour in the State.
While suggesting that almost 70-75% of the population in China used medicinal herbs in treating ailments, Mr. Azad said the allotted area would be used to develop research laboratories and processing units which would ensure better availability of ayurvedic medicines.
He also announced that the Patna Ayurvedic College would be upgraded and accorded the status of a National Research Institute while the Patna Regional Research Centre would be upgraded into a model institute at the cost of Rs. 5 crores.
Mr. Azad further said stated that as Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy were the cheapest modes of treatment, their reach should be extended to the rural areas of the country.
Thanking Mr. Azad for taking interest in setting up AIIMS in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar requested him to upgrade the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzzafarpur and accord it an AIIMS status.
