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Nature Cure in need of care

City’s impressive holistic care centre can do with a fresh boost of planning and better outreach
Hyderabad: As holistic healing gains popularly across the globe, the city’s natural medicine hospital, Nature Cure, one of the first to follow this model of therapy in the country, could do with some PR and outreach.
The centre prescribes “natural ways of healing” from several disorders and diseases. Once you check into the facility that still maintains a substantial green cover, one will have to follow a vegetarian diet and undergo therapies that range from yoga to oil massages.
However, despite the kind of work being done by the hospital, there have been some trouble of late. From the confusion that ensued after the state’s bifurcation to a bit of bad feedback on cleanliness and food, the centre is now looking for a fresh push.
A senior doctor said, “Funds are allotted every year by the government but the sanctioned amount has to be utilised properly. Like '80 lakh was sanctioned for the renovation of the yoga centre last year, but they have still not been utilised.”
Another member of the staff feels that “a bit of PR and marketing for the hospital that is doing such great work will also give it a much-needed boost. Also, there is a need to reach out to more people with programmes so that the philosophy of this therapy goes places”.
Over the decades, several high profile people have checked into the hospital and have even gone on to set up their own centres across the country; one of the most prominent example being the Jindals, who have set up a centre of their own, though it’s prohibitively expensive.
At Nature Cure, a cottage occupancy and therapy will cost one just Rs 15,000 for 28 days, while the treatment charges per day is just Rs 100.
K. Jana Reddy, leader of the Opposition, who checks in frequently, says, “It is one of the best centres where there is a good combination of treatments. Despite being in the heart of the city, they have maintained a good amount of green cover and are able to give the feeling of nature.”
Nature Cure’s origins go back to the Nizam era with Mehdi Nawaz Jung setting the foundation for the therapy centre in the 50s. It was later taken over by doctor couple Dr B. Venkat Rao and Dr B. Vijay Laxmi.
With 150 to 200 patients housed within its premises, the center has 80 per cent occupancy currently in what is considered “off season”. The waiting period, however, could be at least a month.
“The centre is full between the months of February to August. We add extra beds in our wards so the occupancy is even 104 per cent you can say,” says Dr M.V. Mallikarjun, superintendent of the hospital.
The hospital faced some negative publicity recently when a woman from Khammam was denied admission, as there were no beds available. Due to these reasons, the doctors state that naturopathy experts in Andhra are demanding another hospital.
The centre has over 600 out patients coming in every morning for yoga. Dr Satyalakshmi, director at the centre explained, “We teach Patanjali yoga whose benefit can be passed on to people. We also require yoga as a component in public health centres but that is far from being implemented.”
For those ailing, Nature Cure is a blessing. Ann Michael, a teacher who is undergoing treatment for obesity says, “I have been on uncooked food and fruits since two days but am able to hold fort. This same treatment at home would not have worked. The place has improved from what it was two years ago but some more changes will always be welcomed.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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