Minister for Health & Medical Education Bali Bhagat today called on Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik to discuss opening of Ayurvedic and Unani Colleges in J&K.

The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education Dr Pawan Kotwal, Secretary Technical & Director General, ISM J&K Dr Abdul Kabir Dar, Director (P&S) H&ME  H L Bhagat and other officers.

A wide range of issues pertaining to development of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy (AYUSH) in Jammu & Kashmir came under discussion which included starting of Government Ayurvedic Medical College at Jammu and taking of batch of BAMS from the current session through BOPEE.

The Minister apprised Union Minister about keenness of Government of Jammu & Kashmir for starting of the College after a gap of four decades. He said the state of Jammu & Kashmir is rich in medicinal and aromatic plants and the people of J&K have great faith on traditional systems of medicine and requested the Union Minister to expedite the NOC from the Ministry and CCIM.

The meeting also discussed establishment of National Institute of Medicinal Plants at an estimated cost of Rs. 100.00 Crore for which the ground work has been done by the state Government. The union minister was informed that Sanction of 22 Integrated AYUSH District Hospital have been done and release of funds under National AYUSH Mission and under National Health Mission for Mainstreaming of AYUSH wherein about 1000 AYUSH Doctors are already in place and posted in PHCs across the state so as to provide alternative health care facilities to the public.

Minister also discussed starting of Government and Unani Medical College at Srinagar and its associated hospital and sought full support from Government of India.

The Union Minister Shripad Yesso Naik assured full support from the Central Government and asked the State Government to identify the land for integrated AYUSH Hospitals and indicate the sanction of matching state.

He also gave assurance that directions will be passed to the concerned officers dealing with different Central sponsored schemes to consider J&K at top priority including sanction of National Institute for Medicinal Plants/Research centers at different places in the state.

CCIM will be asked to expedite their proposal / clearance of opening of Government Ayurvedic College at Jammu and Government Unani College at Srinagar.

Bali Bhagat expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for his support to the proposals submitted by J&K Government and for giving the time to discuss the long pending issues regarding development of AYUSH in J&K.

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