Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed government Ayurvedic hospital at Nageswar Tangi in BJB Nagar here, in a major push to strengthen the state’s AYUSH healthcare infrastructure.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling laid the foundation stone at a ceremony organised by the Directorate of AYUSH under the Health and Family Welfare Department. Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh also attended the programme.
The state-of-the-art hospital is expected to provide modern and quality Ayurvedic treatment under one roof to patients from Bhubaneswar as well as other parts of Odisha. The government plans to develop facilities including operation theatres, patient wards, day-care units and cabins, besides diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound and X-ray facilities.
According to the government, the hospital will focus on patient-centric services, with strengthened registration, data management and patient management systems. Adequate supplies of medicines and treatment materials, along with deployment of the required human resources, will also be prioritised.
Patient safety and quality of care will be emphasised through evidence-based treatment, standard protocols and continuous evaluation. The government expects the upgraded infrastructure and services to improve public confidence and acceptance of Ayurvedic treatment.
Mahaling said construction of the hospital would be completed within 15 months and the facility would subsequently be opened for public service. He said the project would further strengthen the AYUSH healthcare infrastructure in Odisha.
The minister said the supply of Ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicines in the state had been made regular and systematic over the past two years. He also highlighted the introduction of Panchakarma treatment, anorectal surgery and regular yoga classes in government Ayurvedic hospitals.
Around 40 types of blood tests are currently available at government Ayurvedic hospitals, while ultrasound and X-ray facilities are expected to be introduced soon, he said.
The government has also increased the monthly stipend for AYUSH students, while the salary of doctors working at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres has been increased to up to Rs 90,000, according to the minister.
Mahaling further said discussions were underway with the National Health Authority to explore inclusion of Ayurvedic treatment under Ayushman Bharat and the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.
During his visit to the hospital, the minister distributed fruits among 46 indoor patients.
AYUSH Director Anjana Panda said efforts were underway to make Ayurvedic healthcare services more people-oriented and develop the hospital on the lines of the All India Institute of Ayurveda in terms of quality treatment.
The government said the new facility would help improve the quality of services at public Ayurvedic hospitals and further enhance the acceptance of Ayurvedic treatment among people.rtment, and dated August 13, 2026.
