Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav on Sunday said that 100 per cent central funding for the long-pending 50-bed AYUSH hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will be released immediately after land is made available. He clarified that while the Centre provides technical and financial support, healthcare delivery remains the state government’s responsibility. Jadhav also said the municipal corporation has proposed an independent AYUSH hospital, which can be operated through its own administrative mechanism.
Jadhav was speaking during the inauguration of the Ayurvedic Unit at the CGHS Wellness Centre in the GST Bhavan premises. He said the AYUSH hospital project has already been approved but remained stalled only due to land constraints. Referring to local newspaper reports stating, “Ten years on, AYUSH hospital exists only on paper,” he said the project would move forward as soon as land is allotted. Nanded MLA Baburao Kadam Kohlikar, CGHS additional director (AYUSH) Dr. Ashok M. Iti, CGHS additional director Pune Dr. C.P. Chaudhary, CGST commissioner Pradeep Gurumurthy, municipal deputy commissioner Ankush Pandhare, health department assistant director Dr. Dayanand Motipawle, municipal health officer Dr. Paras Mandalecha, and state labour insurance scheme director Soham Vyal were present on the dais.
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Municipal Corporation also prepares for AYUSH hospital
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Paras Mandale presented a proposal for a 50-bed AYUSH hospital to the union Minister, stating that the civic body already has the necessary infrastructure, which can be converted into an AYUSH facility.
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Approval soon for 10-hectare land
Under the National AYUSH Mission, the AYUSH Ministry has approved a 50-bed district integrated AYUSH hospital for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The process to allot 10 hectares of land at Pahadsingpura in the name of the District Surgeon is underway. The proposed site will also include an AYUSH herbal garden, and revenue department approval is expected soon, after which hospital operations will commence.
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CGHS services to expand to 100 cities
Jadhav said AYUSH treatments focus on treating the root cause of diseases and boosting the body’s natural immunity. The new Ayurvedic unit will provide expert consultations and Ayurvedic medicines under one roof. He said CGHS, currently operational in around 80 cities, aims to expand to 100 cities across the country. At present, CGHS has 341 allopathic centres, 111 AYUSH wellness centres and 19 polyclinics nationwide. The new unit in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will strengthen the national healthcare system, he added.
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Support from district representatives
Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat arrived before the scheduled time but left after realising the programme would take longer. Other local representatives also did not attend the event.