Bagmati govt to upgrade Ayurvedic healthcare services

BY ANIL PARAJULI,Hetauda, July 14: Bagmati Province’s Minister for Health, Kiran Thapa Magar, has said that the provincial government is working with high priority to promote and upgrade Ayurvedic healthcare services. 

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed building of the Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine Hospital in Hetauda-2, Makwanpur, on Sunday, Minister Thapa said that the government had allocated a dedicated budget for the development of Ayurveda.

He said that integrated Ayurvedic services had already begun in Chitwan and Nuwakot, with preparations underway to launch similar services in Makwanpur.

 Minister Thapa informed that all 13 districts in the province will see promotion and enhancement of regional hospitals and Ayurveda and alternative medicine centres, with financial backing from the government.

“Nepal is rich in medicinal herbs, and we must prioritise Ayurveda,” Thapa said. He said that the province was currently producing 10 types of Ayurvedic medicines and planning to increase that number by 11 in the next fiscal year. Of the 23 free medicines provided by the federal government, 21 will be made available by the province itself after mid-October.

Thapa said that Hetauda Hospital has significantly expanded its services after being upgraded to a provincial hospital. Now offering specialist care, it serves thousands of patients daily. Once the new hospital building is completed, the 300-bed facility will be upgraded to accommodate 500 beds.

Minister Thapa also emphasised the dangers of antibiotic overuse and highlighted the increasing importance of Ayurvedic treatment in managing chronic diseases. He advocated for greater use of yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises (pranayama) to tackle rising non-communicable diseases.

Makwanpur Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine Hospital, which previously offered only outpatient services, has now been upgraded to a 16-bed facility. The project, overseen by the Ministry of Social Development through the Public Construction Implementation Unit in Gajuri, Dhading, was contracted to Eureka Pindeshwari JV, Lalitpur. 

The initial contract was signed on March 12, 2023, and was scheduled for completion by March 14, 2025, but delays have pushed the deadline to the end of the current fiscal year. The estimated cost of the project was Rs. 96.9 million, with the final construction cost coming in at Rs. 75.3 million.

According to Dr. Lalita Pandey, an Ayurvedic doctor at the hospital, public trust and attraction towards Ayurvedic treatment have grown significantly. Patients frequently seek treatment for conditions like gastritis, joint and nerve pain, piles, cold and cough and fever. Many believe Ayurvedic medicines have fewer side effects than other treatments, she said.

The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Arjun Dhakal, Chairperson of the Hospital Operation and Management Committee, and was attended by Provincial Assembly members Prem Bahadur Pulami Chhintu and Ekalal Shrestha, officials from the Madan Bhandari Health Science Academy, and the Chief District Officer.