Govt nod to MoU with Mauritius on cooperation in traditional

The government today gave its approval for signing of an agreement with Mauritius on cooperation in traditional medicine systems and homoepathy.
In a meeting, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the memorandum of understanding between the two countries to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said told reporters on the cabinet decisions.
Official sources said that the agreement will be of immense importance to both countries, considering their shared cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) as a part of its mandate to propagate Indian systems of medicine globally has entered into MoUs with China, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Hungary, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The sources said the financial resources necessary to conduct research, training courses, meetings and deputations of experts will be met from the existing allocated budget and existing plan schemes of AYUSH.
Noting that both India and Mauritius share several cultural, historical, linguistic and literary similarities, the sources said that traditional medicine including medicinal plants are promising areas which need to be further explored and can prove to be mutually beneficial to the people of the two countries.

India has well-developed systems of traditional medicine, including medicinal plants which have potential in the global health scenario.
The government of Mauritius also has a long history of traditional medicine in common with India and both countries share a common culture with respect to the ayurvedic system of medicine.

Moreover, there are a large number of medicinal plants, particularly those found in the tropical region and are common to the two countries given similar geo-climatic factors.