Vijayawada: Health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav announced that the state govt will invest ₹414 crore to strengthen AYUSH infrastructure, including ₹280 crore for establishing four new AYUSH medical colleges, as part of efforts to position Andhra Pradesh as a hub for traditional systems of medicine.
Addressing a state-level workshop on the “Importance of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Cultivation and Marketing” at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, he said the coalition government was reviving the AYUSH sector through new medical colleges, integrated hospitals and upgraded healthcare facilities.
Under the initiative, Ayurveda medical colleges will be established at Dharmavaram and Pithapuram, while a Unani Medical College will come up at Proddatur. The Naturopathy Medical College in Visakhapatnam is also nearing completion, he said, adding the construction of the four colleges cost about Rs 70 crore.
The minister said the government plans to set up integrated AYUSH hospitals at Tirupati, Giddalur, Nandigama, Tenali, Tekkali and Rampachodavaram. Modernisation of more than 1,500 AYUSH dispensaries, being undertaken at a cost of ₹44 crore, is also in the final stages.
Satya Kumar Yadav said the government was moving from a “reactive-curative” healthcare model to a “predictive-preventive-wellness-centric” approach, with greater focus on disease prevention and holistic healthcare.
Describing medicinal plant cultivation as a promising avenue for farmers, he said crops such as Ashwagandha, Moringa, Aloe vera and Amla were witnessing growing global demand. He urged farmers and students to tap opportunities in the sector and said the agriculture and health departments would jointly promote cultivation and value addition.
Medical and health secretary G Veerapandian stressed the need for scientific standards, certification and proper labelling of traditional medicines to enhance public confidence. He noted that medicinal plants are currently cultivated on only 30,000-35,000 acres in the state and called for a substantial expansion of the area under cultivation, backed by marketing support and laboratory facilities.
On the occasion, the minister launched a dedicated website for promoting medicinal and aromatic plants, unveiled publications on Ayurveda and medicinal plants, and inaugurated the distribution of medicinal and aromatic plants to farmers.
