Country has special status due to its indigenous health care practice: Minister

The minister was in the city to inaugurate a new building for the Regional Ayurveda Drug Development Institute in Arumbakkam, functioning under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). 

With questions often raised about the lack of research in Indian systems of medicine, the CCRAS, which is an apex body in India for the formulation, co-ordination, development and promotion of research in Ayurveda, will help in the research of Ayurvedic medicines. 

At a time when his ministry is working to make AYUSH a choice of Medicare system globally, Naik said World Health Organisation (WHO) too has accepted the importance of the traditional medicine systems. 

Stating that the Ministry of AYUSH has signed many agreements with the WHO for cooperation in promoting traditional medicine, Naik said, “It will work towards providing inputs for preparation of strategic agenda and work plan in promoting quality, safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine.” He also said the ministry will also help in improving international acceptability and branding of AYUSH systems of medicine. 

Besides these initiatives, the minister also said that an AYUSH centre will be opened in every district of the country, while sports medicine centres will be launched in every state.