AYUSH – Andhra Pradesh Expands Traditional Healthcare Network with Major Investment
AYUSH –Andhra Pradesh is accelerating efforts to strengthen its traditional healthcare ecosystem with significant investments in AYUSH facilities and medicinal plant cultivation.
The Andhra Pradesh government has reaffirmed its focus on strengthening traditional systems of medicine by announcing large-scale investments aimed at developing the state into a leading centre for AYUSH, which includes Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy, and Homoeopathy. Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav said projects worth Rs 414 crore are currently underway to improve healthcare infrastructure, describing the initiative as a major step toward restoring and modernising facilities that had received limited attention in recent years.
Focus Shifts Towards Preventive Healthcare
Speaking at the state conference on “Sustainable Cultivation of Medicinal Plants, Economic Growth, and Marketing Infrastructure” held at Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram on Wednesday, the minister said the government’s healthcare strategy is evolving beyond treating illnesses after they occur. He explained that the emphasis is now on preventive care, early health management, and overall wellness, with traditional medicine expected to play an important role in supporting public health.
Four New AYUSH Colleges Under Development
A key part of the government’s investment plan is the establishment of four new AYUSH medical colleges at a combined cost of Rs 280 crore. Each institution has been allocated Rs 70 crore to strengthen education and healthcare services in the traditional medicine sector.
According to the minister, Ayurveda colleges are being developed in Dharmavaram and Pithapuram, while Proddatur will receive a new Unani medical college. In Visakhapatnam, construction of a Naturopathy medical college is approaching completion, bringing another specialised institution into the state’s expanding healthcare network.
Integrated Hospitals and Dispensary Upgrades
Alongside the new colleges, the state has earmarked Rs 90 crore for establishing integrated AYUSH hospitals in Tirupati, Giddalur, Nandigama, Tenali, Tekkali, and Rampachodavaram. These facilities are expected to improve access to multiple traditional healthcare systems under one roof.
In addition, the government is close to completing a Rs 44 crore modernisation programme covering more than 1,500 AYUSH dispensaries across Andhra Pradesh. The upgrades are intended to improve patient services, enhance infrastructure, and strengthen the delivery of traditional healthcare at the local level.
Project Inaugurations Expected Soon
The Health Minister stated that the newly completed and ongoing AYUSH projects are expected to be inaugurated in the near future. The event is likely to be attended by Union AYUSH Minister, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, highlighting the importance attached to the sector by both the state and central governments.
Healthcare Indicators and Medicinal Plant Expansion
Highlighting broader healthcare progress, Yadav said outpatient visits at government hospitals have increased by around 20% following recent reforms. He also pointed to the successful completion of 255 open-heart surgeries at Guntur Government General Hospital and noted that medical education has expanded through an increase in MBBS seats.
Health Secretary G. Veerapandian said medicinal plant cultivation currently spans approximately 30,000 to 35,000 acres across the state. The government aims to increase this area to several lakh acres in the coming years through collaboration with the Forest Department, improved laboratory testing facilities, and stronger marketing networks to support growers and enhance commercial opportunities for medicinal plants.