The government is stepping up efforts to make Ayush a stronger part of India’s healthcare system. Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge), Mr Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the Departmental Summit on National Ayush Mission and Capacity Building in States at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Sarita Vihar, New Delhi. The event was attended by Dr. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Jadhav underlined the government’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive healthcare system. “Our aim is to create state-specific frameworks, develop SOPs, build better health infrastructure, and integrate Ayush with modern health systems,” he said.

He highlighted the progress of the National Ayush Mission (NAM), launched in 2014, which has helped expand affordable and inclusive services. A major milestone, he noted, is the establishment of 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country—shifting the focus from outpatient services to preventive and promotive care.

The Minister also announced that Ayurveda Day will now be celebrated every year on September 23rd, with this year marking its 10th anniversary under the theme “Ayurveda for People and Planet.” He urged states and union territories to make it a global health initiative.

On the institutional side, Mr. Jadhav launched the Project Management Unit (PMU) at AIIA, aimed at assisting stakeholders on Ayush-related insurance matters. He also inaugurated the ‘Ayurvidya Advanced Centre,’ a digital platform to promote Ayurveda education through online courses, webinars, and interactive learning.

Dr. Paul, in his address, said the Ayush sector is crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. “Health is both an enabler and a milestone for national development,” he said, adding that a longer life expectancy—rising from 71 years to 85 years—will require modern and traditional health systems to work together.

He noted India’s progress in tackling diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, and kala azar under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but stressed that better implementation of NAM, stronger medical education, and promotion of wellness and medical tourism would be essential for the next phase.

Vaidya Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, called for taking the ‘Har Ghar Ayuryog’ initiative—a blend of Ayush and Yoga—to every household, saying it will help build healthier communities.

The two-day summit is focused on state-specific and grassroots-level inputs to strengthen the National Ayush Mission, which integrates systems like Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homeopathy. Senior officials from states and union territories are presenting their findings to guide the way forward.