In a significant move to bolster traditional healthcare, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria laid the foundation stone for a ₹10-crore super-speciality Ayurvedic hospital at Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital (SDACH) in Sector 46, Chandigarh. This 250-bed facility, funded under the Ministry of AYUSH’s Ayurswasthya Yojana, aims to become a center of excellence, particularly focusing on Ayurvedic management of spine disorders.
The ceremony coincided with the golden jubilee celebrations of SDACH, an institution established in 1975 that has produced over 2,500 graduates serving across India. Governor Kataria emphasized the integration of ancient healing practices with modern healthcare technologies, highlighting initiatives like telemedicine and the Ayush Grid to enhance accessibility.
Several public health initiatives were also launched during the event, including a neonatal intensive care unit, a free delivery program covering both normal and caesarean births, a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign, and a geriatric care program aimed at providing compassionate services to senior citizens.
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Dr. Koustubh Upadhyaya, Adviser (Ayurveda), Ministry of AYUSH; KK Gupta, President of Shri Dhanwantry Educational Society; and Dr. Sumit Srivastava, Principal of SDACH. A convocation ceremony followed, where 135 students received their degrees, with Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu urging graduates to utilize their knowledge for societal transformation.
