New Delhi, February 5 (IANS). Integrating AYUSH with modern medicine in the public health system can strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said this on Thursday.
Addressing the third day of the World Governments Summit held in Dubai, UAE, he stressed the need to move health systems away from a treatment-centric approach towards prevention and long-term well-being.
Addressing a session on “From Policy to Practice: Investing in the Future of Integrative Medicine”, Patel said the burden of non-communicable diseases, mental health problems and lifestyle diseases is increasing rapidly due to urbanization, unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity and chronic stress. In such a situation, a system based only on treatment from time to time is not sufficient.
“Integration of AYUSH systems with modern medical and public health infrastructure is a strategic way to build a strong, preventive and people-centred health ecosystem. This approach is in line with the goals of Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
The Minister also underlined India’s policy-based and system-driven approach to integrative healthcare. He pointed out that India has played a leading role in linking its rich traditional medical systems with modern scientific medicine in a structured manner, translating ancient knowledge into evidence-based and large-scale implementable public health models.
According to the World Health Organization, traditional medical systems are culturally acceptable in 88 percent of the world’s member states.
Earlier in a media interview, Anupriya Patel said that Integrative Healthcare has been institutionalized in India. The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 provides a strong foundation for integrated healthcare in India.
He informed that this model has been implemented at the level of primary, secondary and tertiary health services in the country. At the primary level, AYUSH services including yoga and wellness are being provided in Ayushman Arogya temples across the country.
AYUSH blocks are functioning in secondary healthcare, while at the tertiary level, dedicated Integrative Healthcare Units are being set up in national institutions. Additionally, traditional medicine has also been included in the medical education system.
–IANS
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