Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today called for making Gujarat an attractive destination for medical tourism with coordinated development of ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga.

Inaugurating the National Ayurveda Summit-2017 organised by Gujarat Ayurved Board and CCIM and being attended by 1,200 doctors and students at the Mahatma Mandir here, he said that ayurveda is being practiced for the last 1,500 years to treat and cure diseases. The world recognized the efficacy of ayurveda. Gujarat is fortunate to have a long tradition of ayurvedic medical practitioners.

He acknowledged the contribution of AYUSH (Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathic) medical practitioners in rural areas. There is need to popularize this world’s oldest medical science. The government is considering permitting more ayurvedic colleges.

Mr. Rupani said that although people’s preference is for allopathic medicines faster cure, but its treatment begins after clinical tests, whereas ayurvedic vaidyas begin treatment after feeling the pulse beats. In the wake of new diseases cropping up, he said, the ayurvedic system of medicine roots out the diseases.

He inaugurated the state-of-the-art 400-bed Model Institute of Ayurveda Science built at a cost of Rs.500-crore at Kolvada near here on the occasion.

Health Minister Shankarbhai Chaudhary recalled that it was Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi’s dream to set up a modern ayurvedic medical college-cum-hospital at the state capital at Gandhinagar and that at Kolvada is a dream fulfilled. The institute plans to do research in the field. He said that Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is also keen to promote ayurveda in the state and may shortly announce Ayurvedic Policy.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) member and ex-MLA Bharatbhai, Gujarat Ayurved Board head Hasmukhbhai Soni, Ministry of AYUSH secretary Rajesh Kotecha, CCIM-New Delhi chairperson Vanitha Murali Kumar, vice-chairman Umesh Kumar Shukla and Jamnagar-based Gujarat Ayurved University vice-chancellor Sanjeev Ojha.

Those present on the occasion included Gujarat Government’s Additional Chief Secretary Health Poonamchand Parmar, Industries Commissioner Jayanthi Ravi, Vishnubhai Patel and others.

DeshGujarat