By Praveen Prabhakar
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International Arogya 2017, concludes with the call to promote the brand of AYUSH world over by focusing on its basic strengths
New Delhi: International Arogya 2017,the first international conference and exhibition on AYUSH and wellness systems organized by FICCI in collaboration with Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Pharmexcil, concluded with participation of delegates from more than 70 countries and visitors from all over India.
The four-day event was held in the backdrop of the National Health Policy 2017 strongly advocating mainstreaming the potential of AYUSH within a pluralistic system of Integrative healthcare. To further this cause different plenary sessions were conducted on issues such as business opportunities in Integrative Healthcare, building the brand AYUSH, global regulatory issues on AYUSH and matters related to standardization and regulation. The four-day global summit also witnessed a B2B meet on medicinal and aromatic plants.
International Arogya 2017 was inaugurated by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry and Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, in the presence of Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH; and Dr. Sanjaya Baru, Secretary General, FICCI, in the presence of the leading AYUSH Industry stakeholders, 
Government officials and other dignitaries. All the participants unanimously gave a call for mainstreaming AYUSH and integrating its infrastructure into India’s healthcare system.
Delivering the special address at the inauguration ceremony, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, said, “In the recent past, we have seen a resurgence of interest in traditional systems of medicine due to their enormous utility in tackling lifestyle disorders. People from across the world are coming to India for health-restorative cum alternative treatments. With a wealth of 6,600 medicinal plants, India is the second largest exporter of AYUSH and herbal products in the world. We now have an opportunity to mainstream the Indian system of medicine and integrate the AYUSH infrastructure into Indian healthcare system. This infrastructure consists of 1,355 hospitals with 53,296-bed capacity, 22,635 dispensaries, 450 undergraduate colleges, 9,493 licensed manufacturing units, and 7.18 lakh registered practitioners. We want to tap the maximum potential of AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people.”
Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, said, “The patient-centric approach of AYUSH systems holds significant potential for finding solutions to India’s public health challenges. The Government has taken many initiatives to popularize alternative systems of medicine. The National AYUSH Mission was started in 2014. An agreement has been signed with WHO to develop benchmarks for Yoga, Ayurveda, Unani and Panchkarma. Five AYUSH information cells have been set up in Israel, Tajikistan, Peru, Russia and Tanzania. The All India Institute of Ayurveda has been established at Delhi. The Government is offering incentives to AYUSH industry for international cooperation and encouraging certification of AYUSH products to facilitate exports. The AYUSH Premium Markis part of a new, voluntary quality certification scheme to ensure efficacy of Indian herbal products. There is now sufficient momentum to bring the traditional systems of medicine to a higher pedestal in healthcare.”
Dr. Sanjaya Baru, Secretary General, FICCI, noted that India has a long history of using traditional medicines in healthcare, and developing them with modern scientific outlook. He said: “We are witnessing a highly receptive environment where the value of AYUSH systems is widely recognized worldwide, translating into growing global demand. A slew of reforms in administration, research strategies, nature of practice and education are underway, leading to heightened interest in the AYUSH system of medicine, both in India and abroad.”
Mr. A. Jayakumar, Secretary General, World Ayurveda Foundation, said that International Arogya 2017 is a key initiative taken by the Indian Government and FICCI. He said, “The World Ayurveda Foundation has partnered with the Government of India and FICCI for International Arogya 2017. We are also pleased to work with FICCI for the growth of AYUSH sector. In the years to come, this partnership will grow further.”He welcomed all the Indian and international delegates at the event.
Speaking at the valedictory session Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, said, “During the past a few days we have deliberated upon the importance of AYUSH system. Harnessing its merit and immense potential for the wellbeing of mankind has been the focus of this gathering. We have witnessed the participation of more than 70 countries that have shown their willingness and resolve to work for the development of traditional medicine. The contemporary relevance of Ayush is ever increasing. AYUSH system not only makes scientific sense, but can also make considerable business impact. The enthusiastic participation of more than 250 traditional manufacturers itself shows that on the coming days this sector will emerge as a prominent economic entity resulting in enhanced transaction of Ayush products and its related services.”
Some of the key points put up during the plenary session, Business Opportunities in Integrative Healthcare, were the necessity of ‘trans-disciplinary approach’ to promote Integrative healthcare framework. It was also said that integration should not be left to the fate of the patient; rather it will be more fruitful only when physicians integrate their knowledge and practices.
In the plenary session, Building a Brand Strategy: Healing Power of AYUSH for the World, it was discussed that the world is looking up now, and by incorporating modern system of research and by educating people about the concept that Ayurveda is a way of life, the brand AYUSH can be taken out of India.
Free health check-up and consultation, counseling by specialists, Yoga demonstrations and naturopathy sessions were some of the other attractions at International Arogya 2017.
