The Government of India has approved establishment of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the first ever referral-cum-teaching facility in the world’s oldest health care system, at Sarita Vihar in New Delhi.
The Institute has been conceived as an apex institute of Ayurveda with 200 bedded referral hospital for imparting education in the field of Ayurveda at MD and Ph.D level. As per the official report, the construction activities and procurement of medical equipment and furniture are at a steady stage of completion.
As per Minister of State, AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik, research and development in AYUSH is undertaken in accordance with the objectives and strategies outlined in the ‘National Policy for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy-2002’. He also mentioned that the government is in the process of establishing a North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy at Shillong.
Apart from these, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has intimated that they have taken several measures to propagate yoga abroad starting with the celebrations of International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21 this year which was a grand success, celebrated in 192 countries by millions of people.
Important Points To Remember:
- The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy is abbreviated as AYUSH. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Ayurveda is a five thousand years old traditional health care practice in India.
- The origins of Ayurveda are also found in the Atharvaveda.
- Dhanvantari is considered as the God of Ayurveda.