Udupi: “The government has decided to upgrade the Udupi government hospital to district government hospital at Ajjarakadu,” said district in-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj.

He was speaking after inaugurating National Ayurveda Day on Friday, organised by district AYUSH department.

“Though the Udupi had got district recongnition in 1998, the hospitals had only taluk hospital recognition. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and he has passed an order to upgrade the Ajjarakadu hospital as the district hospital. Soon the additional staff including the technicians,” he said.

He further said that Ayurveda medicinal practice has the history of thousands of years. Ayurveda is the only way to cure the diseases without any side effects. It was mentioned in Ramayana and Mahabharath also. The average life expectancy of the people during that time was 120 years and now it has decreased to 70 years due to pollution and unhealthy food habits.

ZP CEO Priyanka Mary Francis, district surgeon Dr Madhusudhan Nayak, district Ayurveda Federation President T N Anchan and others were present.