National Conference on Mainstreaming AYUSH; Cultural Heritage for Healing” on January 16, 2015 at PHD House, New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 02, 2015 – PHD Chamber along with the Ministry of AYUSH organized National Conference on Mainstreaming AYUSH; Cultural Heritage for Healing” on January 16, 2015 at PHD House, New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by Sh. Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India as the chief Guest. The event was well received by the delegates from the corporate, Government and academic world.

The prime objective of the conference is to discuss the various issues related to the wider acceptability of the AYUSH / Alternative medicine treatment.

Mr. Mahesh Gupta, Vice President, PHD Chamber welcomed the Hon’ble Minister, delegates & speakers and set the tone of the conference. He highlighted that the involvement of all the stakeholders, which can lead to providing the inputs to Mainstreaming AYUSH in the current Healthcare setup in India. He urged the government to enhance the yearly allocation for AYUSH to an extent of 20% of the total health budget allocations so that money generated is utilized for the expansion, diversification and broad basing AYUSH.

In the inaugural speech Hon’ble Minister for AYUSH Sh. Shripad Yesso Naik indicated that budgetary allocations for AYUSH ministry has proposed the finance ministry to take it to upto Rs.2,700 crore for the next fiscal, beginning April 2015. He also, mentioned that fresh standards are also being worked out to ensure that quality AYUSH products are made as per new policy prescription so that such products are well tested for their authenticity, credibility and quality. The Hon’ble Minister also made a major announcement of the proposal to have a separate Drug Controller for AYUSH and shared that the cabinet note was being prepared for the same.

In an in-depth address, Mr. Pradeep Multani, Chairman, AYUSH Committee elaborated on issues related to COPP – Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products, Skill Development and Training for AYUSH Students, increase in AYUSH budgets and requested for a system where export of AYUSH raw materials in not hindered by Forest Department officials of various States and financial support is granted for establishment & Upgrade Drug Testing Laboratories to private players. He also suggested that micro and small manufacturers should get the subsidy on the testing fee of their products to encourage them for the same and promoting quality Ayurveda drugs in the Indian market.

Sh. A. K. Ganeriwala , Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India while addressing the industry participants shared the department is open to inputs from the industry for its growth. He added that the government has declared an independent drug controller for the AYUSH that will be separated from the drug controller of modern medicine which should facilitate the industry tremendously.

The technical session focussed on issues related to Mainstreaming AYUSH in the current health scenario of the Nation and several speakers from the industry were present to give their viewpoints and recommendations for mainstreaming AYUSH in current Healthcare setup.

Some of the key speakers during the inaugural session included Vaidya Devender Triguna, President, AMAM & All India Ayuvedic Congress, Dr. J. L. N. Sastry, Head- Healthcare Research, Dabur, Research & Development Center (DRDC), Dr. Vijendra Prakash, In-charge Regulatory Affair, Himalaya Drug Company, Dr. N. B Bridavanam, Dabur India Limited, Dr Deepika Gunawant, Head Integrative Health and Well being, Vana Retreats and Dr. Sanjeev K Chaudhry, Managing Director, SRL Limited. CCI Newswire