Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposing the establishment of Ayush OPDs and the provision of Ayush-based treatment services across Military and Field Hospitals.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, Jadhav, in his communication, highlighted the role of the Armed Forces Medical Services in providing healthcare to soldiers serving in diverse operational environments. He noted that while the Armed Forces have a modern medical infrastructure, integrating India’s traditional systems of medicine could further strengthen preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare for defence personnel.
Jadhav observed that Ayush treatment facilities are currently available in a limited number of institutions under the Ministry of Defence, while many Military and Field Hospitals do not have dedicated Ayush services. He suggested that expanding Ayush facilities across these hospitals would provide soldiers with greater access to evidence-based traditional healthcare, particularly in preventive healthcare, lifestyle management, rehabilitation and overall well-being.
He further stated that the inclusion of Ayush services would complement the existing healthcare framework and contribute to a more comprehensive and patient-centric model of care for Armed Forces personnel. He also noted that the initiative would promote the integration of India’s traditional systems of medicine with the country’s public healthcare delivery systems.
The Minister has requested the Ministry of Defence to consider the proposal for establishing Ayush OPDs and treatment facilities in all Military and Field Hospitals. He also conveyed that the Ministry of Ayush is prepared to provide technical support, professional guidance and institutional cooperation, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to facilitate the implementation of the initiative.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, the proposed collaboration reflects the Government’s commitment to promoting an integrative healthcare approach and extending the benefits of India’s traditional systems of medicine to the country’s Armed Forces personnel.