India, Malaysia on the cooperate mode to boost Traditional Systems of Medicine

New Delhi, January 11: With a wealth of 6,600 medicinal plants, India is the second largest exporter of AYUSH and herbal products in the world. To expand the roots of Ayurveda all over the globe India is always ahead and as a part of the agreement signed between India and Malaysia, a Bilateral talk was held in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine.

The Meeting was presided by Pramod Kumar Pathak, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH from Indian side and Deputy Director General Health (Medical), Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Secretary, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha Ministry of AYUSH in his closing remarks stated that any initiative from Malaysian side for promotion and propagation of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy is welcomed and Ministry of AYUSH is ready to offer its full support. The Meeting had discussed the following agenda:-

(a) Establishment of Ayurveda Chair in University of UTAR, Malaysia

(b) Professional training in Panchakarma therapy for Malaysian experts in India

(c) The evaluation of safety and efficacy of combination Ayurvedic/ traditional products for clinical trials.

(d) Safety evaluation of Ayurvedic products based on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)

(e) Bilateral MoU between National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH and Malaysia for Cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants.

(f) Registration of Homeopathic Practitioner and their capacity building module in Malaysia.

The Malaysian side briefed about recent development in the field of Traditional Medicine in their country. It was informed that Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Council has been constituted to overlook various activities related to T&CM Systems of Medicine. They expressed their keen desire for capacity building programmes for their experts in India to understand analytical parameters with regard to Indian Medicine and for Panchkarma courses being conducted in India.

Ministry of AYUSH highlighted the issues of registration of AYUSH practitioners and products in Malaysia. It was informed that there exists robust system of regulation in the country for AYUSH product, practices and providers in India which could be shared with Malaysian side for reference purpose. Ministry intends to enhance cooperation for designing and developing the policies and strategies in the field of Traditional Medicine in Malaysia.