The landscape of Ayurvedic healthcare in Amritsar presents a stark paradox. While private practitioners, medicine shops, and pharmaceutical companies have multiplied over the decades, the government's infrastructure for this traditional Indian medicine system has remained frozen in time, failing to meet rising public demand.
Government Facilities Stuck in a Time Warp
A telling statistic highlights the decades of governmental neglect: the 26 Ayurvedic dispensaries established in 1969 in the region remain exactly 26 today. The much-publicized government upgrade has been limited to converting only 10 of these into Ayushman Arogya Kendras. Even the 50-bedded Government Ayurvedic Hospital set up at Verka near Amritsar in 2011 functions with crippling constraints, operating with just a single Medical Officer and no supporting staff or specialists.
This lack of resources has severe consequences for patient care. On average, 30 to 40 patients visit the hospital and each dispensary daily. However, the Verka hospital records zero inpatient admissions due to the absence of crucial specialists like gynecologists, ENT doctors, pediatricians, and surgeons.
Private Sector Fills the Void at a High Cost
In stark contrast to the stagnant public sector, the private Ayurveda ecosystem in Amritsar has witnessed explosive growth. The number of Ayurvedic pharmaceutical companies in the city jumped from 36 a decade ago to 56 today. Private practitioners and branded Ayurvedic centres have proliferated across the city, catering to the continuously rising number of people seeking Ayurvedic treatment.
Veteran Ayurvedic physician Dr. S. K. Sudhanshu attributes this boom directly to governmental apathy. "The failure to accord Ayurveda its due importance and rightful place within the public healthcare system has created this gap," he observed. He pointed out that while private centres offer treatment, it comes at a significantly higher cost, making authentic care less accessible to many.
Brain Drain: BAMS Graduates Opt for Allopathy
The government's inadequate support for Ayurveda has also triggered a talent drain from the sector. Dr. Sudhanshu revealed a troubling trend among graduates of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). Nearly 80% of BAMS graduates join allopathic hospitals, with only a small fraction entering Ayurvedic practice. The primary reason is financial; employment in allopathic settings offers immediate and better monetary returns.
When contacted, District Ayurveda and Unani Officer Dr. Dinesh Kumar acknowledged the long-standing issue. He confirmed that the number of government dispensaries has indeed remained static since 1969. Dr. Kumar stated that the department regularly informs higher authorities of the situation and that filling vacancies, including specialists for the Verka hospital, is a decision pending with the government. He expressed hope that these critical posts would be filled soon.
The situation in Amritsar underscores a wider national challenge: integrating and robustly funding traditional medicine systems within the public health framework to ensure affordable and comprehensive care for all citizens.
