MNS:- The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad has urged to bridge the gaps in the emerging spectrum of dual burden of diseases in health care with inherent strengths, holistic approach and wide range of remedies of AYUSH. He said this in New Delhi today while chairing the meeting of Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
He said that Global trends indicate that the natural medicine is going to be preferred resort of health care for chronic lifestyle and geriatric disorders and Indian Systems of Medicine can play a significant role in tackling emerging health problems.
Pointing out that the allocation for AYUSH has grown significantly over the Five Year Plans, many new initiatives are proposed in the 12th Five-year Plan, to shape the development of AYUSH including flexi-funding for mainstreaming of AYUSH activities in the states like collocation of AYUSH facilities in PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals.
Shri Azad announced that three more institutes, namely All India Institute of Ayurveda, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homeopathy and North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine are coming up and are expected to be made functional in the current year.
With regard to improving the standards of education and regulation of drugs, the Minister said, in the last two years, some unprecedented steps have been taken to enforce the quality education norms and prevent mushroom growth of substandard colleges. For the first time, Minimum Standard Requirements of Ayurveda colleges & attached hospitals have been notified and relaxation given in certain eligibility conditions to facilitate objective inspection and reporting of college infrastructure and quality of teaching-training facilities.
Shri Azad informed the members that the Department has also been strategic in bringing regulatory & quality control reforms and a proposal for creation of posts has been moved to the Department of Expenditure to set up AYUSH Drug Controller at central level.
Regarding taking the Indian system of medicines to International forums, the Minister said, AYUSH Information Cells have already been set up in Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico for awareness building about AYUSH. International cooperation with China, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, and South Africa has been initiated and is also under consideration with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Serbia and Mexico. Recently, Department has approached WHO headquarters to extend its support and undertake collaborative activities for the development of traditional medicine with focused outcomes, the Minister added.
Secretary, AYUSH Shri Anil Kumar illustrated various activities and achievements of AYUSH through a presentation to the members.
Some of the members shared their personal experiences in mitigating various ailments through Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/azad-calls-for-a-holistic-approach-to-bridge-the-gaps-in-health-care/
