Jammu, Sep 23: Minister for Medical and Health Education and Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo on Wednesday stressed the need for a broader approach to healthcare, saying a healthy society requires not only hospitals and medicines but also awareness, prevention, healthy lifestyles and responsible use of natural resources.
She was speaking as Chief Guest at the 11th Ayurveda Day 2026 celebrations organised by the Directorate of AYUSH, Jammu & Kashmir, under the theme “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow.”
Sakeena said Ayurveda, as an important component of India’s traditional knowledge system, is gaining wider global recognition. She said its growing relevance in preventive healthcare, wellness and community wellbeing underlines the need to strengthen an integrated healthcare approach in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister called for greater co-location of AYUSH services in healthcare institutions and appreciated the Directorate’s role in inter-sectoral convergence. She highlighted its participation in initiatives including Nasha Mukt Bharat, Anaemia Mukt Bharat and programmes for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Sakeena referred to the 50-bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospital at Kulgam, progress on hospitals at Kathua and Samba, and the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Amargarh, Sopore. She said District AYUSH Officer posts had also been created and filled to strengthen services at the district level.
The Minister highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s rich medicinal plant resources and appreciated initiatives covering school herbal gardens, farmer training, buyer-seller meets and medicinal plant cultivation. She also noted that around 87,110 people participated in International Day of Yoga 2026.
She said AYUSH services also played an important role during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, where 39,609 yoga sessions benefited 1,56,672 participants.
Sakeena said the AYUSH sector’s contribution to preventive and community healthcare was expanding through yoga, public-health programmes, outreach and awareness initiatives. She added that efforts were also being made to strengthen the medicinal plants sector through conservation, cultivation, farmer training, value addition and industry linkages.
Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal, Government Medical College Jammu and Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor, delivered a presentation on “Ayurveda and Cancer.” He highlighted the emerging scope for research and innovation in Ayurveda and stressed the need for systematic research, scientific validation and greater collaboration between Ayurveda institutions, medical colleges and research organisations.
Director AYUSH Dr Ajay Kumar Tikoo, in his keynote address, highlighted the expanding reach of AYUSH services across Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised the importance of combining traditional knowledge with evidence, research and innovation.
Director Health Services, Jammu, and former officers of the Directorate of AYUSH were also present.
The programme concluded with a renewed focus on strengthening quality AYUSH services, preventive healthcare, healthy lifestyles, research and innovation across Jammu and Kashmir.
