All branches of medicine given equal importance: Minister

Kerala Minister for Urban Development Manjalamkuzhi Ali today said all branches of medicine were given equal importance by the state government.
Inaugurating a one-day National Homeopathy Convention here, the minister denied any truth in reports that homeopathy was being ignored and the government was considering creating a separate "AYUSH" department for inclusive growth of all branches of medicine.
"Kerala, which accounts for 2.2 per cent of the total population of the country, consumes 15 per cent of the medicines produced. We should find ways to save more and more people from being affected by deadly diseases like cancer and heart related problems," the minister said.

Legendary medical scientist, Padmabhushan Dr B M Hegde, retired vice-Chancellor of Manipal University, delivered the keynote address.
The convention, which had five moderated sessions, was attended by about 1,000 delegates and research scholars in the fraternity.
An array of scientists from pure and applied science streams, including Dr Khuda Buksh, PhD, Molecular Biologist, Kolkata and Dr Upma Bagai, PhD, Immunologist, Chandigarh, presented research papers at the session.
The inauguration was attended, among others, by M P Abdussamad Samadani, Patron and Chairman of the Organising Committee and Datuk Subramanian V, member of the Upper House, Malaysia.