Gandhinagar: State health minister Rushikesh Patel said in Ahmedabad on Sunday that ayurveda practitioners should take pride in being called ‘vaid‘ instead of doctors because of ayurveda’s ancient history. Addressing practitioners at the Vande Ayucon-2025 organised by the Gujarat Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine, Patel said that ayurveda is a science of living. “Even the spice box in our kitchen is a treasure of ayurveda. Ayurveda practitioners should feel proud to be identified as ‘vaid’ instead of ‘doctor’ due to ayurveda’s ancient history,” an official statement quoted the health minister as saying.
The minister said that ‘ayu’ means age and ‘veda’ means science. Thus, ayurveda is not only for diagnosing diseases but it also teaches how to live life. It is a science that provides treatment without side effects, the minister added.
Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Union AYUSH ministry, said this was an opportunity for collective contemplation and reflection for the future.
He noted that the number of people using ayurveda has increased from 5% to approximately 50% over the last decade.