There is global demand for traditional medicines : Ramadoss

New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said traditional medicine is witnessing a global demand in view of the changing lifestyle that has made it difficult for chemical drugs to provide adequate solutions to chronic and psychosomatic problems.

''And this is one of the main reasons why there is a global resurgence of demand for traditional medicines,'' Dr Ramadoss said while inaugurating the five-day health fair 'Indian Systems of Medicine, AROGYA 2007' here.

He said the department of AYUSH has been organising such comprehensive fairs and exhibitions since 2001 to showcase developments in AYUSH and ''we have found a consistent rise in the public interest and attendance at the fairs.

Dr Ramadoss said for the first time this year, an International Meet of Traditional Medicine Regulators and Industry was also being organised and many foreign regulators, technical experts and consultants have registered to participate in the event. Besides, buyer-seller meets have also been organised to discuss the market development of AYUSH products in India and abroad ''The exhibition has an international dimension and I would like to congratulate the organisers, AYUSH, Ministry of Commerce, ITPO and Pharmexcil for having expanded the scope of the AROGYA Fair,'' he said.

Dr Ramadoss said India is fortunate to have a long history of practice of codified traditional medical knowledge like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Siddha. These systems, which are officially recognised in India, have immense scope to provide solutions for diverse health problems.

''During my tenure as Health Minister, a good number of foreign delegations had shown interest in bilateral cooperation in the area of Indian systems of medicine and had sought the country's support for conducting collaborative educational and research activities.

We are very happy about such initiatives and will provide all possible support for them.'' Dr Ramadoss said the government has increased the 11th Plan outlay for the development of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy in an Evidence Base framework.

UNI