Fourfold rise in rush of patients to panchkarma centre

BATHINDA: Buoyed by intensive awareness drives at different locations across the district and resultant relief for thousands of patients visiting the panchakarma centre situated on the premises of the Civil Hospital, the rush of patients getting treatment here has risen four times in the past four years.

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 11

Buoyed by intensive awareness drives at different locations across the district and resultant relief for thousands of patients visiting the panchakarma centre situated on the premises of the Civil Hospital, the rush of patients getting treatment here has risen four times in the past four years.

Inflow of patients spiralled as people from the Malwa region started reposing their faith in this ancient Indian system of medicine after they were cured from even chronic diseases.

The Panchkarma centre was established in the Ayurveda centre in 2013 but earlier not many people especially those from the rural belt of the region were aware about the ‘Panchkarma’ centre and its healing properties.

It all started with 4 to 6 patients a day when the centre started functioning in 2013 that number escalated to 22 to 25 patients seeking treatment through ‘panchkarma’ in 2017.

The data procured from the centre revealed that a total of 8,087 patients were treated through ‘panchkarma’ in 2017 as against 2389 patients treated in 2013.

While the total number of patients (ayurvedic OPD of centre and panchkarma) seeking treatment were 6,200 in 2013 and that number rose to 10,320 in 2017.

Ayurvedic Medical Officer-cum-in-charge at Panchkarma Centre, Dr Anurag Giridhar attributed the significant rise in rush of patients to the intensive awareness drives and workshops conducted in past four years.

Giridhar said, “Apart from the awareness drives that we conduct all along the year, the word also spread through the patients’ mouth. I come across many patients from different villages from Bathinda and other adjacent districts who are guided by patients healed at the centre for not only common but chronic diseases as well.”

“Our focus primarily remained on rural areas to sensitize people regarding the healing technique of ‘panchkarma’. We have organized around 40 awareness drives, workshops and lecture sessions in collaboration with NGOs in different villages in past four years. Sometimes we organized awareness drives in temples and gurdwaras as well.”

The centre sees maximum rush of patients when winter and summer seasons are on the peak. On average, the centre sees 50 to 60 patients coming for treatment on daily basis.