Traditional systems of medicine to be promoted, says Ayush Minister

The Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik has recently reinstated the message of government’s interest to promote various traditional system of medicine including AYUSH. He also said that the government is making continuous efforts to bring it in conformity with the modern scientific programme.

"Although traditional systems of medicine have their own science behind them, in order to improve their outreach, the government is paying serious attention to validate the traditional knowledge and bring that in conformity with the modern scientific paradigm," he said speaking at the inauguration of an upgraded biomedical laboratory at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine here.

A major challenge is to standardise the traditional systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy and Siddha, and ensure their quality, Naik said.

Efforts are being made to strengthen quality control and standardisation by evolving pharmacopeia standards and setting up Drug Testing Laboratories, Naik said.

Government is committed to promote these systems and has also made compliance of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) mandatory for ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani) drug manufacturing units, the minister said.

In addition, norms are being made more and more stringent to ensure compliance with the evolving world standards on the GMP, he added.

The worldwide acceptance of Indian systems, including Unani medicine, would depend on sound scientific explanations and specific strengths of these streams, Naik said.

He called upon the researchers of Unani and other Indian systems of medicines to devote themselves to strengthening their foundation on scientific lines.