Paiwang Konyak attends National Ayush Mission conclave; ‘Prevalence of non-communicable diseases increased over the years’

New Delhi, 18 May (MTNews): Paiwang Konyak, Nagaland Minister of Health and Family Welfare, stated at the National Ayush Mission Conclave on 18 May 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, that Nagaland is still fighting communicable diseases, while the prevalence of non-communicable diseases has also increased over the years.

“In this alarming rate of increase in lifestyle-related health disorder, the state can be reversed to a great extent with the intervention of Ayush system of health care,” he stated. The public response to Ayush Medicines has been quite encouraging, and Ayush Medicine consumption has consistently increased over the years, he continued.

The Minister stated that the state has established a 10-Bedded Integrated Ayush Hospital in Dimapur, which has been operational since October 2016, a 30-Bedded Integrated Ayush Hospital in Noklak, which has been operational since December 2018, and a 50-Bedded Integrated Ayush Hospital in Razha, Chedema, which has been operational since 2022.

He stated that there are two current projects: a 50-bed Integrated Ayush Hospital in Sapangya, Mokokchung, and a 30-bed Integrated Ayush Hospital in Yachem, Longleng. Under the co-location Ayush facility, repair and renovation of some CHCs/PHCs, as well as pharmaceuticals Ayush hospitals and dispensaries have been supplied.

However, Konyak claimed that the state has failed to obtain approved outlay for the last few years, which has impeded ongoing projects. He went on to say that during the fiscal year 2022-23, the state could only avail 25% of the total outlay, and that most of the programs approved the previous year had to be carried over to the current fiscal year.

The Minister stated that the state is proposing 15 additional Ayush dispensaries for the current fiscal year, including 11 clinics that were approved last year but funds could not be sanctioned/released. Similarly, three 30-bed new Integrated Ayush Hospitals were approved last year, as was one 10-bed Integrated Ayush Hospital that was approved last year but could not be sanctioned. Konyak encouraged the Ministry to consider early release of the fund to enable the state government to propose a supplementary proposal at the later part of the year.

The two-day National Ayush Mission from 18th to 19th May, 2023, was jointly addressed by the Union Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Ayush, Ports, Shipping and WaterWays, Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and was attended by State Health Ministers and Secretaries. Minister P Paiwang Konyak was accompanied by Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Government of Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema IAS and other senior officers of the Department.