Shimla, Feb 22 (IANS) Patients visiting Himachal Pradesh rural health centres may soon be able to consult both allopathic and ayurvedic doctors for treatment. Top government officials said Friday that a proposal has been sent to the central health ministry. If approved, it could offer a better option to patients who would benefit from both schools of medicine.

In the first phase, 250 public health centres (PHC) and 70 community health centres (CHC), which already have allopathic doctors posted along with other paramedic staff, will also have an ayurvedic doctor to assist them.

The scheme will be funded entirely by the central government. The state demanded Rs.900 million, out of which Rs.430 million would be spent in the first year.

“We are hoping the project will be approved,” the state’s Health Minister Rajiv Bindal said Friday.

The Ayurveda department was detached from the state’s health department in 1984.

Ayurveda is quite popular in the hill state. There are 1,109 state run ayurveda centres, and 26 ayurveda hospitals in Himachal Pradesh.