Bhubaneswar, March 18: The Ayush services have been expanded in rural Odisha with increased doctors, camps and tele-consultation. A total of 1,111 Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic and Unani Medical Officers are appointed at Government dispensaries in the State, including rural and tribal areas of Odisha. The Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
“As reported by State Government of Odisha, a total of 584 Ayurvedic Medical Officers, 525 Homoeopathic Medical Officers and two Unani Medical Officers have been appointed at Government Ayurvedic/Homoeopathic/Unani Dispensaries in the State, including rural and tribal areas of Odisha,” said Union Ayush Minister Pratap Rao Jadhav in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
“Public Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility regarding increasing awareness of Ayush treatments among the people, conducting training programmes for Ayush doctors and improving the reach of Ayush healthcare services in remote districts of Odisha, lies with the respective State Government,” said the Minister.
However, the Union Minister said, “Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM), there are provisions for Information Education & Communication (IEC) activities, Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities, training & capacity building, setting up of 10/30/50 bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals, construction of building to establish new Ayush Dispensary in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available and establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector. In this regard, State Governments may avail the financial assistance by submitting suitable proposals through State Annual Action Plans as per the provisions of the NAM guideline.’
“As reported by the State Government of Odisha, Induction Training programmes for newly appointed Government Ayurvedic/Homoeopathic Medical officers and Ayush assistants are being implemented. Further, Refresher Training programmes for Government Ayurvedic/Homoeopathic Medical officers, appointed as Community Health Officers (CHOs) at 422 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) of the State, are being conducted,” said the Union Minister.
Highlighting steps being undertaken by Odisha Government to increase awareness of Ayush treatments among the people, the Union Minister said the Tele-AYUSH facilities have been implemented through e-Sanjeevani platform involving 50 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) as Spoke and Dr. Abhin Chandra Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Puri as Hub.
