Bangalore, Feb 10 (IANS): Government hospitals in districts and local bodies across Karnataka will provide the Indian system of medicine as an alternative treatment, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said Friday.

"Our government has recognised the importance of yoga in daily life and has given priority to promote the Indian systems of medicine through state-run hospitals in districts and local bodies for extending natural health services to the public," Gowda said at the first-ever International Conference on Yoga and Naturopathy here.

As a pilot project, the department of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and homeopathy) has set up 10 out-patient units in Dakshina Kannada district on public-private partnership (PPP) model with Shantivana Trust of Dharmasthala, about 270 km from Bangalore, to provide natural remedies as an alternative medicine.

Noting that altered lifestyle, food habits, stressful life, overuse of medicine and pollution were causing health hazards resulting in new diseases, the chief minister said people were looking for a safe, effective and multi-dimensional healthcare system based on yoga and naturopathy which provide healing and happiness from within.

"The government plans to set up a number of institutions at school and college levels for teaching the Indian systems of medicine on the lines of the Yoga and Naturopathy college at Mysore, which offer different courses in natural therapy," Gowda said.

Echoing the chief minister, Medical Education Minister S.A. Ramadass said the government would adopt 10 local bodies in rural areas as yoga and naturapathy centres to promote Ayush.

"Each centre will be given Rs.1 crore (Rs.10 million) to provide comprehensive healthcare based on Ayush. Private institutes offering yoga and naturopathy courses can collaborate with the government to extend the benefits in all districts across the state," Ramadass said.

International yoga expertsspoke on the inaugural session of the four-day conference at the sprawling Bangalore Palace grounds.