The biggest AYUSH hospital which will be built on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in south Delhi’s Sarita Vihar is expected to be completed in six months. On Completion this hospital will cater to a capacity of 500 patients. Union minister of state for AYUSH  Shripad Naik said that the upcoming six AIIMS hospitals across the country will also have separate AYUSH department in their premises.

The minister said that the government plans to take the traditional practice to every village and will post ayurvedic doctors at the primary health centers in rural areas. He also said GOI has already signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with five countries for cooperation in promotion and research of yoga and ayurveda.

Points to Note

• AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
• Ayush is also a common Hindu given name, derived from Sanskrit, meaning “Long-life”
• AYUSH was Created in March 1995 as the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H). The Department has been elevated to an independent Ministry on November 2014.

Test Your Knowledge

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage.