: The two-day Ayush Habba
(Festival), aimed at promoting and popularising medicinal systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha and Homoeopathy began at nearby Pilikula today.
Inaugurating the event, state Forests Minister and district-in-charge B Ramanath Rai said Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy should be popularised and awareness created among the public about remedies available in these systems for various ailments.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader launched Ayush Arogya cards at the function. The cards could be used at Ayush hospitals in the district to get consultation and treatment at concessional rates, he said.
Khader said some representatives from Mauritius and Belgium had approached him seeking the help of Ayush practitioners here to set up Ayush colleges in their countries.
A large number of people attended the first day's function of Ayush Habba, where a herbal exhibition, food court and Ayush medicine sales centres had been set up.
The Union government formed the Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy) department in 2003 and the Ayush Ministry in 2014 for providing more healthcare to the public and to have focused attention to the development of education and research in these areas.
Naik said India was also collaborating with WHO, and the
US for research to position AYUSH medicines globally.
The Union Cabinet has approved the AYUSH ministry's proposal to collaborate with World Health Organisation.
"With this development, we will start working closely with WHO which will help in global positioning of Ayush medicines," the minister said.
India was also looking to develop a structural dialogue with the US for bilateral cooperation in research and capacity building in Ayush.
"A team of US scientists from National Cancer Institute, senior officers of US Health Department are meeting Indian scientists on March 3 and 4. We are committed to pushing ahead with our commitment for collaborative research in Ayush with the US," he said, hoping for a favourable outcome.
Jitendra Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, said unlike other drugs, it was difficult to push Ayush medicines into the international market because of regulatory framework.
Sharma also said that agencies looking after regulatory work are under-staffed.
