Ayurveda meet calls for popularising Indian system

The one message that rang loud and clear at the 2nd World Ayurved Congress & Arogya 2006 in Pune was a growing recognition to mainstream the Rs 500-crore traditional Indian System of Medicine (ISM)""Ayurveda, Yoga, Sidha, Unani and Homeopathy (AYUSH ) in India and globally.

The three-day seminar from November 10-12 saw over 40-50,000 daily footfalls, registration of 3,500 delegates, representation by 35 countries and 300 stalls exhibiting various facets of the traditional Indian System Medicine (ISM).

Aptly titled "Ayurveda for the Future," the seminar had 200 foreign delegates from 35 countries registering.

They constituted over five per cent of the total registration of 3,500 delegates from all over India.

Bringing to the fore the need for India to adopt a global outlook, Gerard Bodeker, senior faculty member, University of Oxford Medical School and professor, Columbia University, noted that AYUSH is gaining popularity in North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia, parts of Africa and in Asia Pacific. But, its practice is restricted to India and Libya only.

"Ayurveda and ISM are not officially recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centres (CC) and hence they can't be considered as a safe health practice."

This, he continued, "Is in stark contrast to the traditional Chinese medical practice like acupuncture that is represented by seven WHO CC globally and has a regulated market acceptance worldwide."

An international working group must be formed to work with various ministries (health, trade, culture, etc.) of the government of India for fulfilling its globalisation plans, he said, adding a separate national commission should be set up to formulate standards and quality control framework and take up documentation and R&D of AYUSH through education and professionals.