AYURVEDA TRENDS Integrative Medicine Center Inaugurated at Safdarjung Hospital Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare) and Mr Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister of Ayush) jointly inaugurated an integrative medicine center at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Safdarjung Hospital (New Delhi, India). On the occasion, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar (Minister of State for Health), Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai (Minister of State for Ayush), and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Ayush Secretary) were also present. According to Dr Mansukh, this initiative will help provide multidisciplinary care to patients. Integrative medicine aims at harnessing the benefits of Ayurveda along with that of modern advancements from the field of allopathy. Dr Mansukh said that the use of modern and traditional medical practices will help provide better avenues of health and wellness. He also said that the central government has established more than 1,56,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers across the country, which are playing a crucial role in providing various types of services to the citizens. Additionally, Mr Sarbananda appreciated the efforts taken by the AIIA and said that it is a matter of great pride that India is moving toward holistic health care, and integrating medicine systems is an important step in that direction. Sources: AYUSH. Department of Integrative Medicine inaugurated at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. PIB, New Delhi. February 7, 2023. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1897058. Accessed March 1, 2023. Integrative medicine centre of All India Institute of Ayurveda inaugurated at Safdarjung hospital. ETHealthworld.com. February 9, 2023. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/hospitals/integrative-medicine-centre-of-all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-inagurated-at-safdarjunghospital/97751077. Accessed March 1, 2023. Image source: ht tps://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage. aspx?PRID=1897058 Budget Allocation for the National Ayush Mission Increased The Indian government’s goal of integrating the Ayush system into the National Health ecosystem got a major boost in the Union Budget 2023–2024. The finance minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, on February 1, 2023, declared an increase in the total budget allocation to Ayush ministry by 20% to R3647 crore (~USD 455 million). The union government–sponsored National Ayush Mission (NAM) received a 50% increase in budget allocation, thus increasing the total budget from R800 crore (~USD 100 million) to R1200 crore (~USD 150 million). Moreover, the budget laid emphasis on promoting evidence-based research in the Ayush system of medicine through Ayush research councils. According to the Ayush ministry, the NAM is primarily focused on providing cost-effective Ayush services, with universal access to and improving the facilities in Ayush hospitals and dispensaries and health and wellness centers. The NAM also aims at establishing Ayush facilities near primary health centers, community health centers, and district hospitals. Other activities that the NAM focuses on include the cultivation of medicinal plants, the production of quality ingredients to supply to Ayush, the integration of medicinal plants in cultivation, and increasing the export of value-added products of medicinal plants. Source: AYUSH. National Ayush Mission gets 50 percent increase in budget allocation. PIB, New Delhi. February 1, 2023. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1895518. Accessed March 1, 2023. 22 • Himalaya Infoline • Vol 19 • No. 2 • May–Aug 2023
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