The Union Ayush ministry has launched the pilot project ‘Integration of Homoeopathy/Yoga with National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) in Krishna district at Gudivada near Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh.

NPCDCS is a programme of the Union health ministry and its integration with Ayush is one of the mandates of NPCDCS programme. NPCDCS was launched by the health ministry with the aim of health promotion and control of several diseases. Integration of Ayush is expected to act as a catalyst to operationalise its aims and objectives.

The launch of this pilot project is important as about 5.8 million Indians die from diseases like heart & lung diseases, cancer & diabetes etc. i.e. one out of every four Indians runs the risk of dying from one of these diseases before they reach the age of 70. People become vulnerable to these diseases due to smoking, physical inactivity, drinking alcohol, mental stress among others.

The programme aims to aid in reduction of non communicable diseases (NCDs) burden by providing primary prevention of common NCDs through an integrated approach of health education (promotion of healthier lifestyles including yoga), timely screening of population for early detection/diagnosis of NCDs and early management of NCDs through homoeopathic treatment alone or as add on to standard care. Accordingly, the CCRH has developed the operational guidelines for implementation of the programme through its centres i.e., Regional Research Institute (H), Gudivada and Clinical Research Unit (H), Siliguri. Further, the Council has developed training manual for yoga instructors, yoga volunteers and multi task workers which will help creating awareness for public about life style disorders.

Union minster of state for Ayush (Independent Charge) Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated the pilot project recently. The minister said that the Ayush System of medicine has a great potential to contribute towards improvement in the healthcare delivery system as homoeopathy is the most accepted healthcare system after modern medicine and Ayurveda medicine in our country.

He also highlighted the importance of awareness generation among children and the youth in schools, colleges and other institutions for a long term prevention of these diseases through education in initial years of life.

For integration of NPCDCS and AYUSH, it was decided to utilize the services of the homoeopathic doctors and yoga experts in Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) and Darjeeling (West Bengal) districts.