The Ayush department in Karnataka has sought funds amounting to Rs 6.38 crore from the central government for establishing yoga and naturopathy centres in each taluk of the 29 districts in the State. The department has sent a proposal to the Central government in this regard.

A portion of the funding is expected to be disbursed under the centrally sponsored scheme. However, a major chunk of the amount will come through the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) state health and family welfare department is also working towards making yoga and naturopathy centres available at the government hospitals.

"We are looking to set up these centres under the public private partnership (PPP) initiative", Dr. BN Prakash, director, department of Ayush told Pharmabiz.

The State Directorate of Ayush will require Rs. 22 lakh each for setting up the yoga and naturopathy centre at the taluk and this will amount to a total of Rs. 638 lakh in addition to the manpower support, said Dr. Prakash.

The State Directorate of Ayush will call for Expression of Interest (EoI) where Institutes like the Vivekananda Kendra of Yoga, Jigani in the outskirts of Bangalore and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) will be able to support the effort of the State government under the public private partnership.

Another development is that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through its directorate of Ayush has launched a national campaign for the promotion of Indian Traditional Medicine. The focus areas in Ayurveda will be Shasrutha and geriatric care. Under Unani the focus is on skin care and yoga will address the issues of mental health.

"We plan to take this national campaign at the state level and create an awareness about the benefits of these systems of medicine which will support the patient in faster care. There is also the need to highlight the availability of treatment centres in the State", stated Dr. Prakash.

Further, under the Karnataka budget allocation of Rs 1,840 crore in 2009-2010 for the department of health and family welfare, the directorate of Ayush has received a sanction of Rs 8 crore under planned schemes.

Currently, Karnataka has 170 units of Ayurveda, 11 Homoeopathy units and one Unani unit.