India sets up information cells in countries to promote Ayush

Taking the Indian System of Medicines to International forums,  Ayush Information Cells have already been set up in Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico for awareness building about Ayush.  International cooperation with China, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, and South Africa has been initiated and is also under consideration with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Serbia and Mexico.

Recently, Department has approached WHO headquarters to extend its support and undertake collaborative activities for the development of traditional medicine with focused outcomes, Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad said while chairing the meeting of the consultative committee of Parliament attached to his ministry.

The Department of Ayush had moved the proposal to the Department of Expenditure for setting up a Central Drug Controller’s Office for Ayuveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy to be headed by Additional Drug Controller General of India (Ayush).

He said that Global trends indicate that the natural medicine is going to be preferred resort of health care for chronic lifestyle and geriatric disorders and Indian Systems of Medicine can play a significant role in tackling emerging health problems.

Pointing out that the allocation for Ayush has grown significantly over the Five Year Plans, many new initiatives are proposed in the 12th Five-year Plan, to shape the development of Ayush including flexi-funding for mainstreaming of Ayush activities in the states like collocation of Ayush facilities in PHCs, CHCs and district hospitals.

Azad announced that three more institutes, namely All India Institute of Ayurveda, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy and North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine are coming up and are expected to be made functional in the current year.

With regard to improving the standards of education and regulation of drugs, the Minister said, in the last two years, some unprecedented steps have been taken to enforce the quality education norms and prevent mushroom growth of substandard colleges. For the first time, Minimum Standard Requirements of Ayurveda colleges & attached hospitals have been notified and relaxation given in certain eligibility conditions to facilitate objective inspection and reporting of college infrastructure and quality of teaching-training facilities.

Azad informed the members that the Department has also been strategic in bringing regulatory & quality control reforms and a proposal for creation of posts has been moved to the Department of Expenditure to set up Ayush Drug Controller at central level. [Pharmabiz]