Govt to consider uniform norms for Naturopathy

NEW DELHI :

NATUROPATHY education systems run by State Governments follow different syllabi as well as course durations and there is a need to bring uniformity, the Centre told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav admitted the anomalies and said candidates in States with five-year course duration get doctor’s titles, but those who do their course in States with four-year duration do not get the title. Jadhav said there is a need for uniform rules and regulations as well as registration for the Naturopathy course, and the ministry will consider it.

On the shortage of Ayush medicines, Jadhav also admitted that the majority of Ayush doctors are offering their services in rural areas where there is a shortage of Ayush medicines, forcing doctors to prescribe allopathic alternatives. The Government is taking steps to enhance the availability and affordability of Ayush medicines in the country, he said. According to the Minister, the Ayush Ministry has collaborated with 24 countries for research and 51 such collaborations have been done at institution level. Besides, the Minister said to strengthen the educational background for Ayush internationally, Ayush Chair has been established in 15 countries such as Australia and Malaysia. “We are committed to publicising and disseminating Ayush at the international level.

The Ayush Ministry is ready to contribute to the mission of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Jadhav said, adding that the WHO has set up a global traditional medicine centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. Jadhav also said the Government has also taken the initiative to offer Ayush visa. Talking about five research councils under the Ministry of Ayush, Jadhav said that these are: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).

Govt to open 200 day cancer care centres in country in 2025-26: Nadda

NEW DELHI

THE Government aims to open 200 day cancer care centres in the country in 2025-26 where basic facilities to patients would be provided and such centres would be established in all districts in the next three years, Health Minister J P Nadda said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, the Minister said the Government is trying to make healthcare affordable, accessible and equitable by giving technical and financial support to States.

“As per the recent Lancet report, the Ayushman Bharat has made a big contribution and cancer treatment has started within 30 days of screening under this programme,” the Health Minister said, amid thumping of desks by treasury benches. Nadda said the Union Budget has announced the opening of day cancer care centres in every district.

“In 2025-26, we are going to open 200 day cancer care centres and will open such centres in all the districts of the country in the next three years,” he said on the steps taken by the Government in providing treatment to cancer patients.

The Minister also announced that there are 22 AIIMS with full-fledged oncology departments and all central hospitals have oncology departments for the treatment of cancer. “Our Jhajjar AIIMS has the country’s biggest 700-bed cancer centre, where all treatments for cancer are available,” he said. To another question, Nadda said the Gorakhpur All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning and its OPD and IPD are operating in full swing. The Union Health Ministry has signed an MoU with BHU to convert its medical college to AIIMS-like institution and their budgeting is also being done. “We will take it forward,” he said.