Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated six new buildings as part of the Project II of North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH) to expand capacity.
The cost of the construction of these new buildings is estimated at more than Rs 60.16 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “It gives me immense pleasure that we have been able to open up these six new buildings in Shillong today. They will expand the capacity of this premier institute which can play an instrumental role in furthering the role of traditional medicine in the region.”
Ayush is a name devised from the names of the alternative healthcare systems covered by the ministry: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy, an umbrella of so-called alternative medicine.
Sonowal said that the central government is looking to build evidence-based research in “traditional medicine” in tandem with modern, scientific medicine.
Despite criticism of the lack of evidence, plausibility and effectiveness of Ayush treatments, the Centre sees a huge role for integrative medicine in the healthcare solutions delivery system of the country in the forthcoming years.
The Union minister also informed that NEIAH will soon start its own ambulance service.
The six new buildings inaugurated today comprise separate hostels for boys and girls with a capacity of 104 occupants each, senior residents hostel with 25 units, 21 units of staff quarters and a guest house with 19 rooms and two suites.
Speaking about the role of the North East in traditional medicine, Sonowal (an MP from Assam) added, “Our North East is blessed by Mother Earth whose natural bounty has helped us heal for many generations. We simply want to take this process forward so that it can help many more people and help them live a better quality of life. The vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to develop a healthcare delivery system which is effective and efficient. With the continuous impetus to build and expand capacity for research and build a scientific base for traditional medicine, I believe the six new buildings inaugurated today will play a crucial role for NEIAH towards the achievement of this objective.”
NEIAH has witnessed a steady growth in patients over the years, with 52,000 outpatients in 2022-23 and 504 people receiving inpatient care. The majority of these were visitors to its ayurvedic department (36,683 OPD and 482 IPD), followed by homoeopathy (19,397 OPD and 22 IPD).
The institute also conducted some 35 health camps and four ‘continuing medical education’ programmes during the same period.
The 20 acre NEIAH has already enrolled six undergraduate batches into its Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS). From 50 students in 2016-17, the intake of students has now been increased to 63 per batch. The courses are affiliated to North-Eastern Hill University.
