The gradual expansion of Ayush-based healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir reflects a thoughtful and inclusive approach towards strengthening the overall public health system. By gradually combining traditional medicine with modern healthcare, the Union Territory is providing more options for prevention, promotion, and overall health that meet the varied needs of its people.
A key development in this direction has been the full operationalization of all 523 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across Jammu and Kashmir by the end of March 2025. These centers now function as accessible wellness hubs, offering a range of Ayush-based services such as outpatient consultations, yoga and meditation sessions, lifestyle guidance, preventive screenings, and distribution of medicines. Their presence across districts, including far-flung and rural areas, has helped bridge healthcare gaps and bring traditional wellness practices closer to communities that often face challenges in accessing specialized medical facilities. Alongside service delivery, steady progress in infrastructure creation has strengthened the Ayush framework. The 50-bedded Integrated Ayush Hospital at Chawalgam in Kulgam district has been completed and made fully functional, recording a substantial outpatient footfall over the last two years. Additional financial support has been approved for allied works such as landscaping, development of herbal gardens, and manpower engagement, aimed at improving patient comfort and enhancing the overall care environment. Similarly, the 50-bed Integrated Ayush Hospital at Billawar in the Kathua district has achieved significant physical progress, with finishing works underway and the project expected to be completed by March 2026. These facilities are designed to provide comprehensive Ayush services while easing the burden on conventional healthcare institutions. Smaller integrated hospitals have also demonstrated their relevance at the local level. The 10-bed integrated Ayush Hospital at Gadhi Garh in Jammu has shown consistent patient utilization, reflecting growing community confidence in Ayush interventions. Further investments have been approved to expand infrastructure and manpower at this facility, ensuring that services continue to meet increasing demand. Public health programmes implemented through Ayush platforms have reported encouraging outcomes. Initiatives targeting musculoskeletal disorders have led to large-scale screening and treatment, benefiting tens of thousands of people. Specialized programs focusing on maternal and neonatal health, school health, palliative care, and geriatric services have been operationalized across multiple units, ensuring that vulnerable population groups receive appropriate and timely care. Mobile medical units and programs for non-communicable diseases have helped Ayush reach remote and underserved areas, highlighting the importance of fairness and inclusion. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have also emerged as important centers for community engagement and awareness. Over the past two years, yoga sessions, wellness camps, lifestyle counselling, Prakriti Parikshan, and health education activities have reached lakhs of beneficiaries. This sustained engagement underscores the growing public acceptance of traditional healthcare practices as a complement to modern medicine. From a financial perspective, implementation under the National Ayush Mission has remained steady, with healthy expenditure levels achieved during the previous financial year and substantial funds onboarded for the current year. The expected utilization of a large proportion of allocated resources by the end of the financial cycle indicates improved planning, monitoring, and execution capacities. Parallel efforts to strengthen Ayush education have focused on improving academic infrastructure, expanding faculty strength, and introducing new courses in government-run Ayurvedic, Unani, and homeopathic medical colleges. Proposals for establishing new Ayush educational institutions and hospitals in different regions underline a long-term vision of building skilled human resources and ensuring sustainability of services.
Overall, the progress achieved in Ayush service delivery, infrastructure development, and programme outreach reflects a balanced and people-centric healthcare strategy. While challenges remain in maintaining quality standards, ensuring seamless coordination, and deepening integration with mainstream health services, the steady momentum suggests a positive trajectory. With continued focus on accessibility, affordability, and community trust, Ayush has the potential to play an increasingly meaningful role in strengthening healthcare outcomes across Jammu and Kashmir.