Paikmal /Bargarh(Odisha): In a major boost to traditional healthcare services in western Odisha, a new diagnostic centre named NIDAN was inaugurated at the Government Ayurveda Hospital in Paikmal under Padampur subdivision of Bargarh district. The centre was inaugurated by Bargarh Member of Parliament Pradeep Purohit, who emphasised the importance of strengthening Ayurveda by integrating it with essential diagnostic support, particularly in a region as ecologically and culturally significant as Gandhamardhan.
Paikmal is situated at the foothills of the sacred Nrusinghnath Gandhamardhan mountain range, globally recognised for its vast repository of medicinal plants and herbs. For centuries, the region has been deeply connected with Ayurveda through traditional knowledge systems rooted in forest-based resources. Addressing the gathering, MP Pradeep Purohit highlighted this unique heritage and stressed the need to protect and promote it collectively.
“Paikmal and the Gandhamardhan range are blessed with an extraordinary wealth of medicinal plants. The people of this region have always remained vigilant about protecting these natural resources. It is our collective responsibility to give priority to Ayurveda as a dependable and holistic healthcare system here,” Purohit said. He further noted that introducing diagnostic facilities within government Ayurveda hospitals would make traditional medicine more scientific, transparent and accessible for common people.
The newly inaugurated NIDAN diagnostic centre currently provides facilities for 16 types of blood tests. Hospital authorities informed that the centre would soon be expanded to conduct around 22 different investigations, including blood, urine and stool examinations. This development is expected to greatly benefit patients by enabling timely diagnosis and follow-up within the Ayurveda system itself, reducing their dependence on private laboratories located far away.
Speaking on ethical medical practice, the MP urged doctors to serve patients with dedication, compassion and integrity. He also appealed to the local population to actively utilise the diagnostic services available at the government Ayurveda hospital, underlining that public participation is essential for the long-term success of such initiatives.
“Today’s healthcare demands a balance between tradition and technology. When diagnostic support is combined with Ayurveda treatment, it builds greater confidence among patients and strengthens the credibility of traditional medicine as a responsible healthcare option,” Purohit remarked. He also stressed that Gandhamardhan’s medicinal wealth must be preserved, scientifically documented and sustainably used for the benefit of future generations.
The programme was attended by several dignitaries including Rajendra Jena, State Head of Krishna Diagnostic, Santosh Sahu, Deputy Superintendent of the Government Ayurveda Hospital Dr Sarat Kumar Behera and Senior Ayurveda physician Dr Ajit Kumar Darjee.
The meeting was conducted by Dr Lebiya Sagar, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Muralidhar Bag. Other doctors present on the occasion included Dr Srikant Nag, Dr Srikant Rout, Dr Swagatika Pradhan and Dr Nirupama Nayak, among others. The event witnessed active participation from hospital staff and members of the local community, indicating strong public interest in strengthening Ayurveda-based healthcare services.
At the conclusion of the event, MP Pradeep Purohit planted medicinal saplings within the hospital premises, symbolising the deep connection between nature and Ayurveda. He called upon institutions and citizens to promote conservation and plantation of native medicinal species, reinforcing that the future of Ayurveda depends as much on environmental protection as on healthcare development.
