The Kerala Private College Teachers Association (KPCTA) has opposed the State government’s move to set up an independent Ayush University integrating Indian systems of medicine.

In a release on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), the Congress-aligned KPCTA said the decision to appoint a committee to prepare draft legislation for the purpose was unilateral as there had been no prior consultations ahead of it. Since most organisations in the Ayurveda sector were reportedly opposed to the proposal, it was disappointing to see the government going ahead with it. V.M. Chacko, KPCTA State secretary, said the organisation has already sent a letter to Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, expressing its concerns.

The KPCTA functionaries pointed out that the Ayush sector already has opportunities under the Kerala University of Health Sciences for combined research with other systems of medicine. The future of the health sector is in integrated research, and setting up an Ayush university would only isolate the traditional systems of medicine. The functioning of certain Ayush universities in north India was not at all satisfactory too.

Also, creating the post of Vice-Chancellor and administrative systems for a sector having very few colleges would incur additional financial liabilities for the government. The funds proposed for this could be used for improving the infrastructure of existing Ayush hospitals. Functionaries of the KPCTA at Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Thrissur, expressed hope that the government would take an appropriate decision considering the wider interests of the sector.

Published - August 12, 2026 07:49 pm IST