In a landmark move towards transforming cancer care through integrative medicine, the Ministry of Ayush inaugurated the Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Dhargal, Goa, on the occasion of the 10th National Ayurveda Day.
This state-of-the-art institute is the first-of-its-kind in India, designed to bring together traditional and modern medical systems to offer patient-centric, evidence-informed oncology rehabilitation.
The virtual inauguration was done by Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Governor of Goa, in the presence of Dr Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa; Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush & MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Shripad Yesso Naik, Union MoS, Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Pravin Arlekar, MLA, Pernem; and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
The IORCC is among the first multidisciplinary centres in the country to integrate Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Diet Therapy, Panchakarma, and modern oncology under one roof. It is designed to provide holistic, patient-centred care with a special focus on supporting cancer patients through comprehensive rehabilitation services.
The Centre would be chaired by Prof. Dr Sujata Kadam, Dean, AIIA Goa, with Dr Sanjay Khedekar serving as the convener. The clinical and academic team includes noted oncologists and integrative medicine specialists, including Dr. Shekhar Salkar and other faculty from AIIA Goa.
This initiative is a significant step forward in strengthening India's healthcare ecosystem by combining the wisdom of traditional systems with the rigour of modern medicine, offering a model that could be replicated across the country.
