THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Decks are being cleared for the establishment of a university for Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) systems of medicine in the state. As a preliminary step, the state government has constituted a committee to prepare the draft ‘Kerala AYUSH University Bill’.
While the committee will be chaired by the Principal Secretary, AYUSH Department, the State Mission Director, National AYUSH Mission, will be its convener. The Director, Department of Ayurveda Medical Education, and the Principal & Controlling Officer, Government Homoeopathic Medical College, will be the other members.
“The convener shall coordinate the activities of the committee and take steps to prepare the draft Bill within two months, a government order said. As per the order, the proposed university would help realise the objective of an independent and integrated academic system for education, research, healthcare, and drug development in the AYUSH systems of medicine.
The government plans to integrate existing AYUSH institutions under the Kerala University of Health Sciences into the new university. The proposed AYUSH University will be headquartered at the School of Fundamental Research in Ayurveda in Tripunithura. “The establishment of a separate university for AYUSH would help give this system of medicine more avenues for growth,” said a senior government official.
Currently, all traditional and alternative medical systems in the state are regulated and affiliated under KUHS located in Thrissur. KUHS manages academic curricula, clinical training, and standard examinations across all healthcare disciplines.