HP govt expands Panchkarma training to boost wellness tourism

To promote wellness and medical tourism in Himachal Pradesh on the lines of Kerala, the state government has decided to enhance training opportunities in traditional healing systems.

The Department of AYUSH will introduce one-year Panchkarma technician courses in 12 Ayurvedic hospitals across the state from the next academic session, offering 252 seats.

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A government spokesperson said here on Thursday that at present, only 36 seats are available for this course in the state; however, following the directives of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the department will increase the total intake to 252 seats, thereby creating more avenues of employment for the youth in the expanding wellness sector.

He said that the Rajiv Gandhi Government Post Graduate Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Paprola (Kangra), and the Regional Ayurvedic Hospital, Chhota Shimla, currently offer 18 seats each in the Panchkarma technician course. Under the new expansion plan, the intake capacity at Paprola will be increased to 36 students and at Chhota Shimla to 24 students.

In addition, 12 new institutions will start offering the course from the upcoming academic session. These include the District Ayurvedic Hospitals at Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Una, and Nahan, along with the Ayurvedic Hospitals at Nalagarh, Dehra, and Rampur, each with an intake of 16 seats, he added.

The government aims to develop a pool of skilled Panchkarma technicians within the state to meet the growing demand for holistic healthcare and to strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s position as a wellness and medical tourism hub.

The spokesperson further said, “Himachal Pradesh is a treasure house of natural herbs, which gives the state a unique advantage in promoting Panchkarma-based therapies. Recognizing this potential, the Chief Minister has directed the department to scale up student intake and fully harness opportunities in the wellness tourism sector.”