India could usher in a revolution in healthcare sector and become a teacher to the world if it is able to capitalize on its strength in the traditional systems of medicine, said the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shripad Naik, while addressing ‘Arogya,’ the AYUSH festival at Parade Ground here on Friday.
He said that in the last three decades there has been a tremendous resurgence of World’s interest in the AYUSH Systems of Medicine because of holistic approach towards preventive, promotional and positive health aspects of disease management which are present in these traditional systems of medicine.
He informed that India has signed several Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) for bilateral cooperation in the area of traditional medicines and set up Ayurveda chairs and AYUSH information centres in countries like South Africa, Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago. He elaborated that the Arogya fairs which were started in 2001 have attracted the attention of people over the years and have become more elaborate.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat said that the world has recognized the power of Ayurveda and Yoga and Uttarakhand is best placed to take maximum benefit of this new trend.
He said that in the hills of Uttarakhand medicinal plants have long been used for treatment of various diseases and there is a need to preserve these traditions. The CM said that traditional knowledge combined with modern AYUSH interventions, can help to create a strong healthcare system in the hills.
Rawat said that AYUSH systems are capable of curing most complex diseases, are more effective and address the root cause of the diseases apart from being economical. He said that his government is committed to strengthen and propagate AYUSH more widely in the state.
In his address the Health minister of Uttarakhand, Surendra Singh Negi said that AYUSH system of medicine apart from providing good healthcare to the people of the state could also create an opportunity for growing herbs and medicinal plants.
This when linked with industry requirements in an integrated manner, can create employment opportunities in the hills of Uttarakhand, he added.
The four day fair was attended by large number people on the inaugural day. The students of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga enthralled the audience when they performed an energetic Fusion Yoga on the occasion.
The Fair is being jointly hosted by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Department of Ayurveda, Government of Uttarakhand and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)