More than 75 nations participate in the first Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
Traditional Medicine has got unprecedented recognition: Sarbanand Sonowal
The first
World Health Organization Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was inaugurated
today at Gandhinagar, Gujarat alongside the G20 health ministerial meet.
Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the Union
Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Health and Family
Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya were invited to light the ceremonial lamp to the
accompaniment of auspicious hymns dedicated to Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda.
Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Rajnikant
Patel, Union MoS for Ayush Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, and senior
delegates of WHO were also present on this occasion
On his inaugural address Dr Tedros Adhanom
said, “Traditional Medicine is as old as humanity itself. However, it is
not a thing of the past. It has a growing relevance in communities and cultures
even today.” Commending the Indian Government's Ayushman Bharat Initiative, he
praised the country's medical system. Dr Tedros also noted the seamless
integration of traditional medicine into primary healthcare in rural areas.
Addressing the gathering, Sarbananda Sonowal
said that the outcome of the historic WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
will help to propose recommendations for a dedicated forum within future G20
presidencies. He reminded the gathering that the integrative approach of the
government of India is resulting in the establishment of dedicated Ayush
Departments in all AIIMS. He said that it all has happened just because Prime
Minster Narendra Modi ji had a clear vision about the efficacy of Ayush and he
strongly supported the efforts to give allround boost to the Ministry of Ayush
for the benefit of masses of India and the world.
On this occasion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya,
highlighted the significant contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in
nation-building. He emphasized that with the WHO GCTM leading the way towards a
more prominent role of traditional medicine in mainstream healthcare, India is
well-positioned to become a knowledge hub and unlock the full potential of TM.
The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are both showing significant
interest in traditional medicine and more than 170 countries around the world
are utilizing it. The summit provides an ideal platform for international
collaboration and the exchange of ideas to promote best practices in the
sector, he concluded.
Speaking next, the Chief Minister of
Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel shared how the Prime Minister Narendra Modi believed
that traditional medicine could play an effective role in dealing with a crisis
like the covid pandemic. Following this thought, he began connecting other
countries of the world with the mission of Traditional Medicine. His initiative
has now emerged as the world's first Traditional Medicine Global Summit.
Many visitors were drawn to the experiential
Ayush Exhibition Zone which took place alongside an exhibition of traditional
medicine systems from WHO’s six regions. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Ayush
for Planetary Health and Well-being’ and is envisioned with showcasing the
achievements of the Ministry of Ayush in areas of Education, Healthcare,
Research and Public health. The Zone welcomed visitors with a display of
medicinal plants including those used in Ayurveda.
The
ministry's pursuit of sustainable Ayush manufacturing and zero-waste was
highlighted through an impressive pavilion. The exhibition featured their
recycling practices and interactive kiosks, which allowed visitors to access
comprehensive information about Ayush, including the location of all Ayush
hospitals and a digital library with research papers related to the field. A
virtual reality experience of Ayush Healthcare services was available. The
mythical wish-fulfilling tree, the Kalpavriksha was the highpoint of the Ayush
Exhibition Zone. In addition, visitors could engage in an immersive experience,
featuring an AI-based Ayurveda Pulse diagnosis, body constitution analysis, and
even a live Yoga demonstration