Centre sanctions ₹185.75 crore for AYUSH expansion in Andhra Pradesh, highest ever under NAM
The Union government has approved ₹185.75 crore for Andhra Pradesh under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for the financial year 2026-27, marking the largest allocation the State has received from the Centre since the mission's launch in 2014. The funds aim to strengthen traditional systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, across the State.
According to a press release from the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, the allocation comes after a gap of three consecutive financial years—from 2021 to 2024—during which the State received no funds under the NAM. The recent approval also follows the Centre's earlier announcement of ₹100 crore for a 100-bed Central Research Institute for Yoga and Naturopathy at Prathipadu in Guntur district.
As part of the expansion, the State government plans to deploy 19 Mobile Medical Units across nine Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) at a cost of ₹1.26 crore. These units, staffed by AYUSH Medical Officers and multipurpose health workers, will provide healthcare services to tribal and remote communities in areas including Rampachodavaram, Chinturu, Parvathipuram and Paderu.
The government has earmarked ₹50 lakh to digitise AYUSH dispensaries and provide them with internet connectivity. An additional ₹62.8 lakh has been allocated to supply laptops to 157 AYUSH Medical Officers across the State.
Alcohol de-addiction centres will be established at four AYUSH government teaching hospitals, while yoga wellness centres will be set up at the State Secretariat and four major prisons. These centres are intended to address stress, lifestyle-related disorders and mental health concerns among employees and inmates.
In a significant move for sports medicine, the government plans to establish an AYUSH Sports Medicine Centre of Excellence in Kadapa. This centre will help athletes recover from injuries using traditional therapies and is expected to benefit sportspersons across the region.
Under the action plan, ₹12.80 crore has been allocated for modernising 64 AYUSH dispensaries, and ₹22.16 crore will be spent on providing free medicines at 712 dispensaries. Funds have also been earmarked for Panchakarma, yoga, herbal therapy and de-addiction services, in addition to setting up an AYUSH clinic at the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
For AYUSH education and infrastructure, ₹38.84 crore has been allotted, including support for a Government College of Naturopathy and Yoga with a 100-bed hospital at the Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS). Another ₹5.28 crore has been sanctioned for 58 speciality wellness centres.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav acknowledged the approval, noting that the State had received no allocation under NAM for three years. He thanked the Centre for the funding and said the government would continue to accord high priority to expanding AYUSH medical services across Andhra Pradesh.
