PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that Goan practitioners of Ayurveda and Homeopathy should be at the forefront to commercially promote the two alternate forms of medicines, creating a tough ground for foreigners running their wellness centres in the coastal belt.
The State has witnessed a steady rise in the number of local practitioners over the past 22 years with approximately 900 practitioners produced through the first Homeopathy Board set up under the then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar.
“There is immense scope for wellness tourism in Goa. Merely practising Homeopathy will not help but one should try to sell it. Practitioners should start wellness tourism centres in collaboration with different sectors such as the hotel industry. One should grab the opportunities, or else people from other states and countries will take over the profession,” Chief Minister Sawant said while addressing the State-function on World Homeopathy Day in Panaji.
Sawant, who himself is an Ayurveda medicine professional, said the government is ready to support this initiative.
“We are willing to set up and support wellness tourism centres offering integrated medicine practices through Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Physiotherapy and Homeopathy. We have to keep up the holistic approach as there’s scope to attract different countries in what will boost wellness tourism,” he added.
Quite a few yoga retreats and wellness centres in the coastal belt are run by foreign nationals, particularly, Russians and Germans.
The CM further said that people are attracted to Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Homeopathy treatment post-Covid pandemic.
“The first Goa Homeopathy Board was formed in 2001 under the leadership of our former Chief Minister the late Manohar Parrikar and today we have 900 practitioners in Goa. Homeopathy has gained importance and has become the 2nd Medical Science practised all over the world,” he said while announcing the government’s proposal to establish a research-oriented centre under AYUSH for the integrated practice of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy at Ribandar.
About employment opportunities for young medical aspirants, the CM encouraged them to take up courses and jobs in the Health Sector adding that administration, research, education, NGO and de-addiction are some of the sectors that offer various opportunities in different subjects of study.
