Patna: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulam Nabi Azad announced on Wednesday that Patna Ayurvedic College would be upgraded and accorded the status of National Institute of Research, and the Patna Regional Research Centre of Unani medicines would be turned into a model institute.

Azad was addressing the concluding session of 'AROGYA-2000', an alternative medicine fair at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on December 9, 2009.

He said in an effort to facilitate the growth of Ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine, the Union Government had planned to invest Rs 650 crore for setting up of drug manufacturing units across the country.The medicinal units, which would be established under the National Ayurveda Mission, will have processing, research and laboratory facilities, he added.

Earlier, Gulam Nabi Azad inaugurated Ayush vision centre at Patna Ayurvedic College. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also present on the occasion.

Azad praised Bihar government initiatives in health sector. He said Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy should be extended to villages as these were the cheapest form of treatment.