The Ministry of Ayush and Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare/ECHS, Ministry of Defence (ECHS/DoESW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate Ayurveda in ECHS Polyclinics as an OPD service for a five years period.

These will be established at 10 polyclinics based at Ambala, Mysore, Ranchi, Nagpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Meerut, Danapur, and Alleppey (Alappuzha). Ayurveda centres are already in place in 37 cantonment hospitals, 12 military hospitals of AFMC and Ayurveda OPD in AH R&R, AF Hospital Hindan and five ECHS polyclinics.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush by Dr. Manoj Nesari, Adviser (Ayurveda), Ministry of Ayush and by Maj. Gen. N. R. Indurkar, MD, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme in the presence of Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Brig, Jitendra Singh, ECHS, Col. A. C. Nishil, Director (Medical) and other officials of Ayush Ministry.

According to this MoU, Ayurveda OPD will be established in 10 ECHS Polyclinic/Dispensaries in various regions of India to cover all ECHS members on a voluntary basis. The Ministry will provide technical guidance from time to time and will empower Ayurveda doctors and pharmacists for their engagement and provide a list of essential Ayurveda medicines and any other technical support as may be required.

Department of Ex servicemen Welfare/ECHS, Ministry of Defence will provide requisite infrastructure (rooms/furniture/other amenities) at a suitable location in the respective polyclinics, engage with Ayurveda specialists, Ayurveda general duty medical officers and paramedical staff on contractual basis and provide ancillary staff (administrative, clerical and multi-tasking staff) as required for day to day working.

Both ministries have agreed to form a joint working group (JWG) comprising representatives from Ministry of Ayush and Department of Ex servicemen Welfare/ECHS, Ministry of Defence to take forward the proposal of establishing OPDs as per the MoU.

The Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Defence has strengthened their association in providing Ayush Health services at various establishments of the Ministry of Defence. Through the 2019 MoU, Ayurveda OPD was started in Armed Forces Medical Services facilities of AH R&R, AF Hospital Hindan and five ECHS Polyclinics. Later in 2022, two MoUs were signed for starting Ayurveda Centres at 37 Cantonment Hospitals and 12 Military Hospitals of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).