Andhra pushes for new AYUSH institutes amid major healthcare expansion

Andhra Pradesh is gearing up for a massive growth in the AYUSH healthcare sector, where new national institutes, medical colleges, and integrated hospitals are planned. The state government has asked the Centre to give Andhra Pradesh one of the three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIA) announced recently, said Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav.

Since AIIMS is located in Mangalagiri, the state has officially asked for the AIIA to be set up in Tirupati. The minister was optimistic that the Centre would give a positive reply. Meanwhile, land has been finalised for two major national-level institutions in Amaravati’s jurisdiction.

These take in the Apex Naturopathy National Institute, Shakamuru, which is being set up with an investment of `750 crore, and the Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy (CRYON), Nandimpalem, Guntur district, where `100 crore has been sanctioned. Besides, the government is equally paving the way for two new Ayurveda colleges, one each in Dharmavaram and Kakinada, and a Unani medical college in Proddatur. In Dharmavaram, the government has acquired land, while locations are being scouted in the other two areas.

Construction tenders will be invited soon, with each college expected to cost around `70 crore. In addition, six integrated AYUSH hospitals will be set up across districts including Srikakulam, ASR (Paderu), NTR (Nandigama), Guntur (Tenali), Prakasam (Giddaluru), and Tirupati. Each hospital will cost approximately `15 crore, totaling `90 crore.

Recruitment is also underway, with 358 posts to be filled under the National AYUSH Mission, covering doctors, therapists, yoga instructors, and support staff. Another 140 teaching and non-teaching posts will be filled on a contractual basis in Ayurveda and Homoeopathy colleges.

The Minister highlighted that the Centre has already sanctioned `165 crore under the National AYUSH Mission, a first for the state, and assured that more funds would follow.

He criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting AYUSH services between 2021–24, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special focus and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s initiative in strengthening traditional medicine alongside allopathy.

The Minister also revealed that from April 1, 2026, the state plans to roll out a Universal Health Policy under the NTR Health Trust, offering insurance-based medical services. Under the ‘Sanjeevani’ scheme, free blood tests will be provided to all citizens.