Right time for Ayurveda to storm the world

[Guest guest]

NEW DELHI: Experts from various fields have called for promoting ayurveda

in the world market to tap the immense potential for alternative system of

medicine.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Times Foundation, FICCI and VHERDS of

Chennai here on Friday, representatives from the industry, media and

traditional medicine suggested a new dialogue between ayurveda and modern

medical science.

 

Quoting President Abdul Kalam, they said that unless the patent battle was

fought well, ayurvedic medicine would have to be imported from the West.

 

The lively discussion took place in the presence of Swami Jayendra Saraswati

the Kanchi Sankaracharya.

 

Times Group Chairman Indu Jain pointed to the wider use of ayurveda and its

many benefits. "Ayurveda not only cures but teaches us the art of living,"

she remarked.

 

She said the traditional system of medicine had a spiritual dimension. "It

is a healing process," she said.

 

She said with support from the industry, the tough challenge of patenting

ayurvedic formulations could be met. "We have to fight a grim battle," she

warned.

 

Times Foundation, she announced, would launch a unique global oneness

campaign from June 8. Shekhar Dutt, secretary of the newly-constituted

department of AYUSH within the health ministry, pointed to the growing

demand for traditional medicine in the world market because of its

non-invasive nature.

 

He, however, regretted that India had not been able to make ayurvedic

tourism as attractive as it should have been.

 

"There is need for more research to produce quality medicine and face

competition globally," he said pointing out that the government would

support drug testing labs around the country.

 

Exim Bank chief T C Venkat Subramanian suggested that agri-export zones be

created to cultivate medicinal plants.