Ayurvedic globalisation

India has moved forwards in advocating global usefulness of Ayurveda contemporary scenario of health care through global net works. As a result many foreign countries have began looking to India for understanding Ayurveda and incorporating it through education, research and practice to meet the overwhelming desire of consumers to access Complementary & Alternative Medicine. Indian Missions in U.S.A., U.K., Russia, Germany, Hungary, South Africa have played an effective role in channeling the information of Ayurveda and opening up new opportunities for the spread of Indian Medicine in to foreign institutions and the general public awareness building about Ayurveda in the foreign countries has been identified as an important thrust area. During 2001-2002 following efforts were made by the Indian Govt. in the area of globalisation:

1. Experts were deputed to attend symposia & Seminars held in foreign countries to project Indian experiences & initiatives in the field of traditional medicine.
2. A delegation led by Joint Secretary, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy and consisting of Ayurveda experts, scientists and industry representatives presented scientific basis of Ayurveda and the extensive research work done before a Sub Committee on Alternative Medicine set up by the House of Lords of the U.K. Parliament resulting in to moving the Ayurvedic single herbal medicines from category-3 to category-1. This presentation led to dispel doubts about the efficacy validity and scientific basis of Ayurveda which was in fact acknowledged by Lord Walton in the UK Parliament.
3. A Seminar cum Exhibition mainly of Ayurveda was arranged in Geneva on the occasion of the World Health Assembly with a view to sensitize the participants of the assembly about the infrastructure, strengths, scientific validity & basis of Ayurveda and efficacious role of Panchkarma in treatment of chronic diseases. The event was well received and succeeded to generate interest for Ayurveda products and literature.
4. Two seminars and a presentation of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy were organised in the ‘Made in India’ show at Johannesburg, South Africa during 18-21 July, 2001. Yoga demonstrations and literatures on the practice of Ayurveda,use of medicinal plants in the treatment of comon ailments, strengths of Homoeopathy in health care and preventive & curative roles of Yoga were arranged during the seminar. Getting convinced with the strength and scientific basis of Ayurveda, South Africa has decided to enact a Regulation which will oversee in import of Traditional medicines particularly Ayurveda & Unani. Indian delegation under the leadership of Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare also visited the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, which is a part of the University of Dehradun where, it has been decided to introduce a course on ayurveda.
5. Yoga experts from National Institute of Yogam, New Delhi participated in a Yoga conference arranged by the Indian Embassy in Dushanbe, Kazakhstan. Lecture cum Demonstration of Yoga were given not only to the general public but also to the staff of Ministry of Defence, teaching faculty & students of Medical University, doctors and staff of the Army Hospital.
6. An Indian team comprising Joint Secretary of the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy and Ayurveda experts from premier institutes participated in a seminar on Indian Systems of Medicine held in Berlin, Germany. Infrastructure related details, policy support, research work of Ayurveda was highlighted through an audio-visual presentation.
7. A five member delegation led by the Secretary of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy visited Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia to assess the development made on the implementation of the MOU signed between India and Russia for undertaking collaborative & co-operative activities in the field of Ayurveda. A series of meetings were held during the visit with Deputy Health Minister of Russian Federation, Academic Council of Doctors of St.Petersburg. Moscow institute of Medico-social Rehabilitation, Russian State Medical University, Academician G,I,Marchuk-Director of the Russian Academy of Sciences and representatives of Russian companies interested in importing Ayurvedic medicines and other products. The main issues discussed were related to deputation of Ayurveda teachers & experts, establishment of Ayurveda Research Center in Russia, import of Ayurveda medicines, translation of Ayurveda books & research papers in Russian language and above all recognition of Ayurveda as a medical and health care system in Russia. All these issues are actively followed up for fruitful implementation of the MOU for propagation of Ayurveda in Russia in right perspective.
8. Secretary of the Department along with Adviser –Ayurveda visited USA in November 2001 to discuss Ayurveda education programme with the officers of the National Center for Alternate & Complementary Medicine, which is under the National Institute of Health, Bethedsa, Washington; for evolving plans to facilitate the introduction of training modules on Ayurveda in US medical schools. A clear strategy for overall development and propagation of Ayurveda in USA has been laid down and capsule courses of Ayurveda will be introduced in US medical schools. It was decided that a team of 15 medical experts would visit India for interaction with Indian experts for exploring possibility of research collaboration in the field of Ayurveda. University of Maryland’s Medical School was found to be very receptive to introducing Ayurveda sessions in the university and to start short term teaching programme for students.
9. An Ayurveda officer from the department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy participated in a W.H.O. Regional meeting on ‘Integration of Traditional Medicine in the National Health Systems’ held in November 2001 at Harare, Zimbabwe.
10. A Memorandum of Understanding is being signed with the Government of Hungary for development of Ayurveda in that country. Hungarian Government has recognized Ayurveda and 40 of its products are being sold there.