LUCKNOW: To strengthen traditional healthcare systems and expand medical education infrastructure, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated plans to establish five new integrated AYUSH colleges and hospitals across the state. The proposed institutions will be developed in the Gonda, Mirzapur, Meerut, Agra and Basti divisions, and create a wider network of healthcare and educational facilities that will focus on India’s traditional systems of medicine.
Principal Secretary, AYUSH, Ranjan Kumar said the initiative will expand affordable healthcare and increase opportunities for AYUSH education in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed institutions will bring together traditional systems of medicine and modern health sciences to provide better learning opportunities for students and improved healthcare services for patients.
The project is being implemented as part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s efforts to strengthen Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) across the state. In recent years, these traditional systems of medicine have gained increasing acceptance among people who look for preventive healthcare, natural therapies and wellness-focused treatment options. In India, growing awareness about healthy lifestyles, stress management and holistic healthcare has further contributed to the rising demand for AYUSH services and education. The proposed colleges and hospitals are expected to help meet this demand while expanding access to quality healthcare and medical training.
Director General, AYUSH, and Mission Director of the National AYUSH Mission, Chaitra V, said that land has already been identified for all five proposed campuses. Four sites have been formally transferred to the AYUSH department, while the transfer process for the Basti campus is nearing completion. Authorities are currently preparing the blueprint and architectural plans for the integrated colleges and hospitals.
Officials said the upcoming institutions will be designed as comprehensive healthcare and academic centres rather than conventional teaching colleges. Along with academic departments and teaching hospitals, the five campuses are expected to include research laboratories, training facilities, innovation centres and community healthcare units.
The new institutions will also focus on research in areas such as Ayurvedic medicines, yoga therapy, preventive healthcare, nutrition, medicinal plants and lifestyle-based treatments. The government will promote scientific research and modern facilities to strengthen traditional healthcare systems while preserving their original values and principles.
The expansion comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh is making significant investments in both modern and traditional healthcare infrastructure. Over the past years, Uttar Pradesh has established new medical colleges, upgraded district hospitals and strengthened health education facilities. The proposed integrated AYUSH colleges and hospitals will further strengthen these efforts by providing people with more healthcare choices and creating additional opportunities for medical education, training and research.
The project will help in improving access to medical education in different regions of the state. Currently, many students from smaller towns and rural areas are required to relocate to larger cities to pursue AYUSH-related courses. The new colleges will allow students to pursue their education closer to home, reducing both travel and living expenses.
Apart from education, the hospitals linked to these campuses are expected to improve healthcare services in their regions. People will be able to access AYUSH treatments, wellness services, yoga therapy and preventive healthcare programmes, along with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities. The integrated approach will promote overall well-being, encourage preventive healthcare and help manage lifestyle-related health issues more effectively.
The initiative is also in line with the central government’s efforts to promote AYUSH systems across the country through better institutions, research and public awareness. In recent years, the Centre has increased support for AYUSH education, digital health programmes, medicinal plant cultivation and traditional medicine research, helping Indian healthcare practices gain greater recognition in India and abroad.
With the initial preparations underway and land transfer work nearly complete, the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to begin the next stage of planning and construction. Once operational, the five integrated AYUSH colleges and hospitals are expected to improve healthcare services, create employment opportunities, support medical research and increase access to quality AYUSH education in different parts of the state.
