A Special Outpatient Department (OPD) for the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was inaugurated at the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai, on 28 November 2018.
The Special OPD was established pursuant to the decision taken in the meeting regarding the status of NPCDCS, held under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
The Special OPD will focus on the prevention, control and management of stroke through the Siddha system of medicine. The OPD will function under the Department of Sirappu Maruthuvam, NIS.
NIS was already conducting Special OPDs for Non-Communicable Diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The newly inaugurated Special OPD further strengthened the Institute’s services in the area of NCD prevention and management.
Prof. Dr. V. Banumathi, Director, NIS, inaugurated the Special OPD. Dr. N. J. Muthukumar, Hospital Superintendent i/c and Head, Department of Sirappu Maruthuvam, along with faculty members, administrative staff and postgraduate scholars of NIS, attended the inaugural function. The initiative was part of NIS efforts to promote Siddha for public health and to expand specialised Siddha healthcare services for chronic disease prevention and management.
