Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches Major Ayush Initiatives to Boost Healthcare in North East

New Delhi: In a significant move to enhance the Ayush sector in North East India, Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, launched four major initiatives. The inauguration included a dedicated Panchakarma block, marking a first in the North East region, and a cutting-edge Pharmacology & Bio Chemistry lab, a pioneering facility in the region.

The Union Minister also laid the virtual foundation stones for the permanent campus of the Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy (RRIH) and the Integrated Ayush Wellness Centre, a unique center making its debut in the country.

Shri Sonowal highlighted the government’s commitment to integrating traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, and Sowa Rigpa, into modern medicinal practices. Emphasizing the importance of incorporating centuries-old treatments into contemporary healthcare, he noted that the new Panchakarma block and advanced Ayush labs would fortify the healthcare delivery system in the region, benefiting the people of Assam and the North East.

The dedicated Panchakarma Block at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) is set to provide Panchakarma therapies at reasonable rates, focusing on scientific validation. The facility spans 9453.30 square feet and will offer a Panchakarma Training Course to train technicians, ensuring a qualified workforce for the Ayush market. The cost of the building exceeded ₹7.72 crores, equipped with specialized rooms for key Panchakarma therapies.

Another groundbreaking move was the inauguration of the ‘Pharmacology and Biochemistry Laboratories,’ the first of their kind in the Ayush sector in the North East. Equipped for drug standardization, safety, and efficacy evaluation of Ayurvedic formulations, these labs will contribute to the scientific validation of therapeutic and safety potential. The labs, built at a cost of over ₹2.71 crores, will focus on developing cost-effective polyherbal formulations and ensure the quality of Ayurvedic drugs.

The Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy (RRIH) will soon have a permanent campus, equipped with a 50-bedded IPD unit, OPD services, clinical labs, an emergency unit, and a minor operation theatre. The ₹53.89 crores project is slated for completion by 2026.

India’s first Integrated Ayush Wellness Centre, a pioneering initiative, will offer treatment and OPD facilities in Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. The center will also provide Panchakarma, Naturopathy, Unani, and Siddha therapies, with plans for a herbal garden.

The initiatives were unveiled less than two years after the foundation stones were laid, showcasing swift progress in boosting the Ayush sector’s capacity in the region.