Ayush Minister Urges Defence Minister to Expand Traditional Medicine Services in Military Hospitals

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposing the establishment of Ayush outpatient departments (OPDs) and treatment facilities in all Military and Field Hospitals. In his communication, Jadhav emphasized the role of the Armed Forces Medical Services in providing healthcare to soldiers in challenging environments and argued that integrating India's traditional medicine systems could strengthen preventive, promotive, and holistic care for defence personnel. He noted that while some defence institutions already have Ayush facilities, most military hospitals lack dedicated services. The proposal aims to expand access to evidence-based traditional healthcare, particularly for preventive care, lifestyle management, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. Jadhav offered the Ministry of Ayush's full technical support, professional guidance, and institutional cooperation, including the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding, to facilitate implementation.