Patna: Challenges Faced by Government Ayurvedic College

While the country is observing Ayurveda Day, the prominent Ayurvedic college of Bihar is battling infrastructure shortcomings, and staff shortages are hampering the delivery of services to the people.

The Government Ayurvedic College Patna has submitted its requirements for funds and the filling of staff vacancies to the Health Department and is waiting anxiously for action.

"The Ayurvedic college has been witnessing a footfall of about 500 patients daily, but because of infrastructure constraints, we are facing problems in delivering desired services to people," said the Superintendent.

Despite the need for Rs 20 lakh annually for making food available to patients admitted to the hospital, only Rs 6.60 lakh have been provided, which might force the college to stop providing free meals to patients, he said.

Though the college has a sanctioned capacity of 200 beds, only 100 are operational at present due to the absence of construction of an additional third floor, which was approved long ago.

The college has submitted a list of 22 vacancies, including:

• Senior resident doctor
• Emergency medical officer
• Yoga trainer
• X-ray technician

These are the minimum requirements mandated by the CCIM (Central Council of Indian Medicine) under the Union Ayush Ministry.

A sum of Rs one crore has been given by the state government for the 2016-17 financial year for providing free medicines to patients, which is proving inadequate, and the college might not be able to give medicines to patients, he said.

The college has been drawing tremendous response from people, and if these bottlenecks are removed, it would provide better medicare to people, he said.

The Union Ayush Ministry has decided to observe National Ayurveda Day on October 28 and has also launched "Mission Madhumeha (diabetes) through Ayurveda".