Ayush Ministry to tie up with WHO
The Ayush Ministry is set to tie up with the WHO to promote Ayurveda globally and also celebrate World Ayurveda Day. Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Naik said the ministry would be signing an agreement with the WHO shortly. He added that his ministry would also be signing an agreement with the US government on promoting cancer research.
AYUSH refers to the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy systems of medicines that have been practiced in India for centuries. These systems are based on definite medical philosophies that focus on prevention of diseases and promotion of health. There has been a resurgence of these systems of medicine because of their holistic approach in treatment of diseases and health.
The Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy was formed under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1995. It was renamed as Department of AYUSH in 2003. In Nov'14, the AYUSH Ministry was established by elevating the Department of AYUSH to a full-fledged ministry. The ministry mainly focuses on the development of education and research of AYUSH systems of medicines.
The International Yoga Day on 21st Jun'14, which registered 2 Guinness World Records of largest yoga lesson involving 35,985 people and the maximum number of nationalities (84) participating in a single yoga lesson, was organised by the AYUSH Ministry.
India has established a department of AYUSH at the Dubai consulate to provide consultation services to the public. The initiative will see Ayurveda and Homeopathy doctors providing a free consultation to the public on designated days. The initiative will serve multiple purposes of promoting the AYUSH system of medicines globally as well as attracting people for medical tourism to India.
The Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik, called for an integration of traditional Indian medicine with modern Indian medicine. Mr. Naik while speaking at NIMS University, Jaipur said that all system of medicines must be integrated so as to promote a healthy life. The AYUSH ministry had proposed an integration of ayurveda and allopathic systems for better results in treatment of illnesses.
The Union Health and Family Planning Minister J.P. Nadda, said that Yoga should be integrated with modern medicines to treat mental and neurological problems. He was speaking at the convocation of NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences), Bangalore. The minister, while appreciating the institute for its contribution, asked for developing methods to further integrate Yoga therapy for mental and neurological problems.
The government has approved the collaboration of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Ministry with the World Health Organisation. This is expected to improve acceptance of Indian traditional medicines globally. Under the pact, the AYUSH Ministry and WHO will take initiatives for promoting Traditional and Complementary Medicines through publication of basic terminologies, creation of global databases and collaboration of regulatory agencies.
India has partnered with the US to collaborate on research and development of traditional medicines for preventive and palliative cancer care. The move seeks to bolster the credibility of the AYUSH Ministry's medicines by bringing them on a global platform. The collaboration between the two countries is also expected to open a huge market for AYUSH practitioners globally.
The Centre approved proposals to set up fourteen 50-bed integrated AYUSH hospitals in nine states under the National Ayush Mission by 2016. AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik said "For setting up these hospitals, a total amount of Rs.3.30 crore was approved during 2014-15 and Rs.20.14 crore has been approved till date during 2015-16." The Ayush ministry is also implementing a tribal health care research programme.
