Standardisation of Ayurveda essential for global acceptance:Ramadoss

Pune, Nov 5 (UNI) Union Health Minister Ahbumani Ramadoss here today reiterated the government's commitment to standardise Ayurvedic drugs with a 'treatment protocol' for global acceptance having already earmarked Rs 120 crore for infrastructure and development.

After inaugurating the 2nd World Ayurveda Congress at the Pune University, Dr Ramadoss told reporters that there is greater interest in traditional medicines and system of therapy the world over. ''After taking diagnostic leads, many people opt for plant-based medicines. Therefore, there is a need to standardise drugs and monitor the mineral and other contents for the medicines to be acceptable. There has to be a scientific validation and molecular research,'' he added.

''Several contentious issues keep cropping up. For instance, the forest department does not permit medicinal plants to be taken by researchers. The Allopathic Medical Courses do not offer any basic courses to understand the traditional medicines. Some foreign countries ban Ayurvedic medicines as they come under the food category,'' the minister said, adding that to deal with this, a comprehensive approach is being worked out to include traditional systems in curriculum of the MBBS courses, and standardisation.

''Besides, three medicinal plantations have already come up and are being cultivated in Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh and Kerala. Around ten such medicinal plantations have been planned, and they will address issues with the forest department,'' the health minister said. To another query, he said around 90 per cent of the raw materials from plants are being exported. ''We want to reverse this and export processed materials,'' he added.

Dr Ramadoss agreed that Ayurvedic medicines could be used for preventing diseases. He said some plants have been found to be useful in preventing malaria, however, more research needs to be done, but the government would try to promote a preventive health care system.

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