In a significant boost to traditional healthcare infrastructure, Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling today laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of the 100-bed Government Ayurvedic Hospital in Bhubaneswar and the construction of a new Pharmacy Warehouse.
The ceremony was attended by Ekamra MLA Babu Singh and senior departmental officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Mahaling said the initiative forms part of a larger vision to strengthen Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the conservation, promotion and modernisation of India’s traditional medical systems, including Ayurveda, are being prioritised. Following this path, the Odisha government under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is taking concrete steps for qualitative improvement, modernisation, and infrastructure strengthening of government Ayurvedic hospitals,” he stated.
Officials noted that the hospital upgrade will significantly enhance the quality of treatment and create a more convenient, patient-centric environment. The new Pharmacy Warehouse will ensure systematic storage and efficient management of medicines and essential supplies.
The government’s broader goal is to make safe, high-quality, scientifically standardised, and patient-focused Ayurvedic healthcare more accessible and robust for the general public. Free testing and medicine facilities already available at the hospital are expected to further increase public trust and demand for Ayurvedic treatment.
In related developments, the state government has granted administrative approval for a new Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Murugaghutu in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district. Contractual remuneration for faculty has also been revised: lecturers will receive ₹70,000 per month, while readers and professors will now earn between ₹40,000–₹80,000 and ₹50,000–₹1,00,000, respectively.
Stipends for students in government Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medical colleges have been hiked from ₹17,000 to ₹30,000 per month. Postgraduate stipends have also been increased substantially – first-year students will now receive ₹48,000, second-year ₹52,000 and third-year ₹55,000 (up from ₹31,000, ₹32,000 and ₹33,000).
These measures reflect the state government’s strong commitment to advancing Ayurvedic education and healthcare services across Odisha.
