Aiming to streamline treatment facilities provided by it under Indian systems of medicine, the MCD is planning to create a separate directorate for Ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy (Ayush).

At present, Ayush is under the supervision of the Director of Hospital Administration, MCD.

“The three Deputy Directors in charge of Ayush report to Additional Director (Medical), who is a specialist in allopathic medicine,” the MCD Public Health Committee Chairman, Mr V.K. Monga, said.

“The requirement of specialised knowledge in Ayush reinforces the need for a separate directorate for it. Indian systems of medicine are substantially different from allopathy,” he pointed out.

Proposal

According to a proposal put forward this week to the MCD standing committee, a key decision-making panel of the civic body, the new directorate will consist of a Director (Ayush) while three deputy directors will be redesignated as Additional Director (Ayurveda), Additional Director (Unani) and Additional Director (Homeopathy).

The matter, however, has been postponed after Councillors raised some issues related to payscale for the new post. Mr Monga said the proposal will be brought before the committee again after making the necessary changes.

Separate directorates for Ayush have already been set up by Delhi government as well as the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

Under Ayurveda section, there are 116 dispensaries, two mobile dispensaries, seven pachkarma hospitals and two 100-bed hospitals.

There are also 37 homeopathic dispensaries and 28 unani dispensaries being run by the MCD in the city.