On February 15, 2021, The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) and the World Health Organization South East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO) signed a letter of exchange (LoE) for deputation of an AYUSH expert to WHO’s regional traditional medicine programme in New Delhi.
- The LoE was signed by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush and Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Region.
- Under this AYUSH ministry will support WHO SEARO for implementing the regional traditional medicine action plan on safe and effective use of traditional medicine service.
- Both participants also agreed to launch a public health research project on COVID-19.
Key Points:
–Both sides will identify various challenges faced by the member states of SEAR in regulating, integrating, and promoting traditional systems of Medicine.
-They will also aid the SEAR countries to develop policies and regulation framework for strengthening the role of traditional medicine.
Countries that already Recognized AYUSH systems of medicine:
–Ayurveda is recognized in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, UAE, Colombia, Malaysia, Switzerland, South Africa, Cuba, Tanzania.
— Ayurvedic treatment is regulated in 5 countries of European Union (EU) viz. Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Serbia and Slovenia.
–Unani system is recognized in Bangladesh.
–Siddha system is recognized in Sri Lanka.
Additional Info:
–Practices of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani are recognised under ‘The Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970’ (IMCC Act 1970).
–Practice of Homoeopathy is recognized under ‘The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973’ (HCC Act 1973).
Recent Related News:
i.The “Ayu Samvad” (My Health My Responsibility), one of the largest public awareness campaigns on Ayurveda and COVID-19 pandemic (in the form of lecture series) is organised by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, an apex Ayurveda institute under the Ministry of AYUSH, from 26th January 2021 to 30th March 2021.
ii.On January 19, 2021 President Ram Nath Kovind, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, temporarily appointed Union Minister of State (MoS) Kiren Rijiju with additional charge of the Ministry of AYUSH following the hospitalisation and treatment of Shripad Yesso Naik.
About World Health Organization South East Regional Office (WHO SEARO):
Member States– 11
Headquarter– New Delhi
