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Sajeev Kumar. V

The Government had identified 15 American and 15 Indian scientists who would in team of two prepare projects for funding by donor agencies and collaborate in research.

KOCHI, Nov. 7

THE efforts of the Union Government to propagate ayurveda internationally is gaining acceptance as more and more countries have started to include this traditional system of medicine in their studies and research activities.

The countries which have shown interest in ayurveda curriculum and research included Russia, US, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina, UK, France, Italy etc, Ms Malti S. Sinha, Secretary, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy said.

Presenting a paper at the recently concluded World Ayurveda Congress here, she said the Government of Russia had entered into a MoU with the Indian Government in the field of ayurveda training and research. Panchkarma and Kshar Sutra were in the process of being recognised in Russia.

Similarly, South Africa had accepted ayurveda as a medical system and registered all ayurvedic doctors and started BAMS and PG course. The process of allowing import of ayurvedic drugs had begun which would be registered for import. A faculty of ayurveda is being set up in Nelson Mandela School of Ayurveda.

According to Ms Sinha, medical schools in the US wanted to introduce an ayurvedic module and various teaching institutions in India such as Banaras Hindu University and Gujarat Ayurved University had entered into MoU's for collaboration in the field of education and research with institutions in Japan, Australia, Italy and Argentina.

A major initiative has been taken with regard to joint collaboration in research with National Institute of Health, US. The Government had identified 15 American and 15 Indian scientists who would in team of two prepare projects for funding by donor agencies and collaborate in research.

"This in other words means acceptance of our systems by US as scientific systems and would go a long way in propagating ISM,'' she said.

She pointed out that in the 10th plan, the country's focus would continue to be on improving ayurvedic facilities, improving standards in teaching, creating centres of excellence, research and development drug standardisation and quality control, integration of health services and awareness generation etc.

A pilot research project is being implemented with the active collaboration of Indian Council of Medical Research and Central Council for Research in ayurveda and siddha. This would be implemented in five states for a period of three years to assess the effect of ayurveda and siddha interventions in ante-natal and post-natal care.

In addition kits containing five ayurvedic drugs to primary health centres would be dispensed and two drugs under the prescription of ayurvedic doctors through Indian System of Medicine dispensaries in the states.

Some states such as Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were working towards integration in the national programmes. However, most states still have to utilise the vast ISM&H resources in their National Health Programmes, she added.

Regarding the availability of good quality raw material for producing drugs, Ms Sinha said the Government had started encouraging states and union territories to register raw drug traders and cultivators to ensure quality and facilitate measures which enhanced efficiency, cost effectiveness and upgradation of harvesting and storage of medicinal plants.

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