Soon, Ayurvedic treatment may come under health scheme

The Ayush department of the central government is in talks with Niti Aayog to include Ayurvedic and other treatments under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

Currently, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy are not covered under the scheme.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary of the ministry of Ayush, said they are in the discussion stage to include ayurvedic treatment in the PMJAY programme. Kotecha was speaking at the inauguration of the 8the World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo in Ahmedabad on Friday.

CM Vijay Rupani said there was a need to create an ayurvedic revolution if we are to popularise the ancient system of medicine. "Unlike the modern systems of medicine, Ayurveda looks at overall wellness and that includes social and environmental wellness too. The focus is not just on treatment but prevention," said Rupani. He also warned of the need to document the systems or there was a threat of the country losing its formidable source of knowledge.

Experts at the event also called on for the need to provide ayurvedic treatments at community and primary health care centres. Shailaja Teacher, a minister in Kerala, said they were looking at Ayurveda to help with the management and prevention of lifestyle diseases. "We believe that Ayurveda holds an answer. With the help of Ayurveda and such we are also looking to reduce the out of pocket expenditure of people in the state for health-related issues."