Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the beginning of a new era in India’s healthcare industry on Ayurveda Day by stressing the fusion of Ayurveda with contemporary medicine. He spoke at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, where he emphasized the value of health for the advancement of the country and launched several health initiatives totaling more than ₹12,850 crore on the anniversary of the birth of Dhanvantari, the Hindu deity of medicine.
Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to healthcare access by announcing that the Ayushman Bharat health insurance policy would now cover all senior citizens 70 years of age and older. He cited old sages and pointed out that people consider health to be the greatest wealth, a belief that is becoming more widely accepted, especially as a result of yoga and other such disciplines.
He commended the fact that more than 150 nations celebrate Ayurveda Day, highlighting the widespread interest in Ayurveda and India’s significant contributions to health and well-being. Modi noted that AIIA has emerged as a hub for fusing traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern medical procedures, such as Panchakarma and cutting-edge research.
Preventive healthcare, early disease diagnosis, inexpensive treatment and medications, accessibility to healthcare in smaller areas, and technology breakthroughs in health services are the five pillars of his government’s health strategy, according to the prime minister. He talked about the utilization of drones and helicopter services to improve healthcare delivery and announced the creation of four centers of excellence under the AYUSH health system.
Additionally, Modi established the groundwork for new medical colleges in a number of states and opened hospitals in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. He urged that the present 7.5 lakh registered AYUSH practitioners be increased in order to accommodate the growing demand for wellness and medical travel.
In order to establish a sizable market for these goods, he underlined the need for traditional herbs like ashwagandha, turmeric, and black pepper to be scientifically validated. According to Modi, the AYUSH manufacturing sector has grown significantly, from $3 billion in 2014 to about $24 billion in 2024.
He also established four new Centers of Excellence at prestigious institutes to promote research in a range of health fields and set the foundation for two central research institutes that specialize in yoga and naturopathy. Along with introducing state-specific action plans addressing climate change and its effects on health, Modi also started a national health awareness campaign called “Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan.”
In conclusion, PM Modi’s speech outlined a thorough plan to improve India’s healthcare system by fusing ancient and contemporary methods, with the goal of bettering everyone’s health.
SOURCE :
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
