President Ram Nath Kovind today inaugurated the upgraded Ayush Wellness Centre in the President’s Estate in the national capital.

Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Ayush Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Ayush Wellness Centre (AWC) at President Estate started on 25 July 2015, as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Ayush and the President Secretariat. The AWC has treatment facilities in the streams of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha &Homeopathy, and it caters to the medical needs of the President, and officials of the President’s Secretariat and residents of the President’s Estate. The upgraded infrastructure along with facilities for the Ayush system will follow standard protocols of treatment.

A book documenting the “establishment, functioning and key milestone” of Ayush Wellness Centre in Rashtrapati Bhavan was also released today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre by Minister of State for Ayush Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai in the presence of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Minister of Ayush and K D Tripathi, Secretary to the President.

Appreciating the publication, the President has said in his message contained in the book, “I am pleased to note that a large number of patients have benefitted from this Centre. Initiatives like patient education workshops, school health programs and outreach OPDs etc undertaken by this Centre are well-appreciated. Telemedicine facilities started during the COVID-19 pandemic and online Yoga classes helped the beneficiaries during this difficult phase.”

On this occasion, Sonowal said AYUSH systems of medicine have been traditionally used for healthcare through centuries. He said that the health promotive, preventive and curative roles of Ayush systems are the reasons for its acceptance among the masses.

The Minister informed that the Ministry of Ayush and the President Secretariat collaborated to start Ayush Wellness Centre, President Estate as the first step in this direction. He further said that the upgraded Ayush Wellness Centre will continue to provide Ayush treatment in a seamless and efficient manner.

While recapturing the salient features of the centre, Secretary Ayush, Vd. Rajesh Kotecha said that the level of acceptance of this centre can be gauged from the fact that in the last 7 years, more than 1.6 lakh residents of the President Estate have visited this centre. A total of 60 research papers have been published by the centre to date. He further emphasized that with its enhanced facilities, the centre is bound to serve the residents in a more holistic manner.

Rashtrapati Bhavan with help of the Ministry of Ayush established the first AYUSH Wellness Clinic (AWC) in the country with all systems under one roof at President’s Estate in July 2015. At that time a dilapidated building in the President’s Estate was renovated and converted into the AWC. The AWC has treatment facilities in the streams of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy. It is a precursor of many such clinics in various government departments and reputed institutes like AIIMS across the country.