Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the government has a special emphasis on traditional medicine. He noted that a distinct Ministry of AYUSH had been established to underscore this commitment.
Mandaviya said this while speaking at the closing session of the two-day World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. He commended India’s dedication to traditional medicine, particularly Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy, all of which fall under the Ministry of AYUSH.
He also pointed out the significant role that traditional medicine played during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing effective scientific and evidence-based remedies for prevention, treatment, and public health management.
Close collaboration between the Ministries of Health and AYUSH
Mandaviya highlighted the close collaboration between the Ministries of Health and AYUSH. This cooperation involves the integration, endorsement, and development of holistic health, incorporating traditional medicines and yoga into over 150,000 Health and Wellness Centers. The establishment of integrated medicine centers within tertiary hospitals further exemplifies this approach.
Mandaviya referred to the overarching theme of India’s G20 Presidency, which emphasizes unity and convergence for robust health systems. He stated that the summit serves as a beacon for bolstering health systems and advancing research, evidence, and innovation to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sarbananda Sonowal, the AYUSH Minister, noted that the summit is instrumental in identifying collaborative and innovative opportunities within traditional medicine, contributing to the realization of Universal Health Coverage goals.
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded the newfound attention governments are giving to traditional medicines. He acknowledged the extensive history of these practices and highlighted the recent establishment of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Ghebreyesus praised India’s efforts in promoting traditional medicine and expressed hope that the inaugural traditional medicine summit would bridge the gap between modern science and traditional wisdom, ultimately enhancing health systems.