The four-day global convention on Ayurveda, beginning at Coimbatore on August 21, will evolve strategies for integrating Ayurveda in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and prepare a mission document for globalization of the ancient science. Efforts were on to formulate guidelines to offer Ayurveda treatment in its purest form and come out with strategies for integrating Ayurveda in the NRHM, Dr P Ram Manohar, secretary general of the scientific session of the conference told a press meet in Kochi.
World over the population of the aged is on the rise and the department of Ayush under the Health Ministry has identified geriatrics as a priority area, he said.
The conference, to be inaugurated by former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, also aims at coming out with a blueprint for setting up a national centre for geriatrics. The centre is to be set up at the national institute of Ayurveda at Jaipur. The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy ltd (AVP)’s geriatrics unit at Coimbatore would be upgraded to collaborate with the Jaipur institute.
Metabolic disorders and nutrition are the other two areas which the conference will focus on, he said. The deliberations will address the relevance of Ayurveda in addressing these critical areas of health care, Dr K G Ravindran, medical director avp, Coimbatore, said.
The conference is being held as a culmination of the year long centenary celebrations of renowned Ayurveda physician and founder of Coimbatore A.V.P. Arya Vaidyan P V Rama Varier. The conference will also prepare a vision document for globalization of Ayurveda. Around 110 scholars from India and abroad will address the sessions in which about 2500 delegates, including 300 from abroad are expected to participate.
Dr Ram Manohar said a series of per convention workshop will be held from Aug 14-21. Seven panel discussions, 18 technical sessions, 9 pre convention workshops in 5 venues will be held. The panel discussions will also focus on Ayurveda pedagogy: global needs; science in the context of Ayurveda for global acceptance, Ayurveda and biotechnology and evolution of Ayurveda industry in the global pharma milieu.
The students from the 250 odd Ayurveda colleges in the country can come and see the technologies available in Ayurveda treatments, he said. As part of the conference, the Arogya International Ayurveda Health Expo will be held to create an opportunity to showcase business products.
The organizers expect over 250exhibitors– manufacturers, raw drug vendors, software solution providers, neutraceuticals, herbal medicines, to participate. Yoga demonstrations, astrology consultation and a buyer-seller meet will also be held.
The AVP which has treatment centres in Malaysia, Oman and UAE, is also earning revenue of about RS 2 crore annually by exporting some of its products, it was stated.
