Ayurved Health Service and Department of Aayurveda and Alternative Medicine

Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine (DoAA), one of the three departments of the ministry of health, primarily responsible for the Management of delivery of Ayurveda & Alternative Medicine Services and promotes healthy lifestyles through its network facilities across the country through planning, programming, coordination, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the Ayurveda Service programs.

Ayurveda is an ancient medical system and indigenous to Nepal with centuries old deep roots. More than two third of the population in Nepal relies on traditional practices for the primary health care, primarily due to the its accessibility, affordability and its alignment with cultural practices. There are estimated at least 400,000 traditional medicinal practitioners in Nepal practicing different modalities like ritual or ceremonial practices, spiritual practices, diet and self-healing.

The sources of Ayurveda medicine are medicinal herbs, minerals and animal products. It is involved in promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services of people. Ayurveda health services are delivered through one Central Ayurveda Hospital (Nardevi), Provincial Hospital (Dang, Dhanagadhi, Jhapa), 77 Provincial Ayurveda Chikitsalaya/ Health Centers and 305 Ayurveda dispensaries (Aushadhalaya) across the country.

The Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine unit in the Ministry of Health & Population (MoHP) is responsible for formulating policies and guidelines for Ayurveda and other traditional medical system. Contitution of Nepal,2072, Various national and international policies have highlighted the importance of Ayurveda services in primary health care and for prevention of NCDs. The Constitution of Nepal has called for the protection and promotion of traditional Ayurveda medicines along with naturopathy and homeopathy.