With the Indian system of medicine gaining popularity, the Department of AYUSH is coming up with a hospital facilitating ayurveda, homeopathy, yoga and unani at the epidemic hospital premises on Old Madras road very soon. Mr G.N. Sreekantaiah, Director, Department of AYUSH, Karnataka told Deccan Chronicle, “We have already sent a proposal to government. The hospital to come up will be equipped with 10 beds, an outpatient department (OPD) catering to all panchakarma (ayurveda, yoga, unani, naturopathy, siddha and homeopathy). For elderly patients who rely on Indian medicines, we have made plans for a separate geriatric ward at the hospital where special care will be provided to the elderly suffering especially from joint pains, arthritis and spondylitis."
“Currently, in the state, we have five hospitals under the AYUSH Department, but they specialize in only one form, one hospital for homeopathy, another for ayurveda and another for unani. So this hospital will be the first to cater to all forms of panchkarma," he added. The Indian system of medicine gaining acceptance across the world clearly manifested during the International conference on Yoga, Naturopathy and Arogya Expo (ICYN) – 2012 held in the city during February. He said, “The Indian systems of medication are easily available especially in rural areas and have relatively lower side-effects.”
Meanwhile, spreading its wing across the state, the Department of AYUSH has also put forward a proposal to come up with similar AYUSH hospitals in 15 taluks. He said, “There are 176 taluks across the state of Karnataka and currently we have small AYUSH hospitals only in 47. As per the budget proposal of 2012-13, by the end of 2013, we will be coming up with 15 more AYUSH hospitals in different taluks.”