Govt. to standardize Ayurveda globally

In a move that would get kudos from practitioners and believers in Indian systems of alternative medicines, especially Ayurveda, the Indian government has revealed that it is in a process that would allow the standardization of the practice and procedures of Ayurveda, especially Panchkarma globally.

The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) and the Ministry of Health has sent letters to several countries including US, UK and Switzerland where Ayurveda is popular and sought their help on this matter. The government is waiting for the World Health Organization (WHO) approval on Panchkarma treatment guidelines on safety and practices that it formulated last year.

The guidelines on Ayurvedic clinics contain information the following points:

a)    manpower,
b)    minimum space,
c)    equipment,
d)    essential Ayurvedic drugs, and
e)    procedures.

Revealing this, AYUSH advisor of Ayurveda Dr. SK Sharma said;

“Letters in this regard have been sent to 45 countries. We have information that there are about 3,000 clinics practicing Ayurveda, particularly Panchkarma. Ayurveda is very popular in Italy, Switzerland, Guyana, Britain as well as America. WHO takes about a year and half to send its approval. We have sent a reminder a few weeks ago.”

This is very welcome. However, the government must act fast to implement it so that other countries do not get the opportunity to seize the initiative leaving us crying foul.