The World Health Organisation (WHO) will set up a Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two Ayurveda institutes on the occasion of Ayurveda Day.
PM Modi inaugurated the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda in Gujarat’s Jamnagar and the National Institute of Ayurveda, in Jaipur via a virtual event.
Speaking about the WHO initiative, PM Modi said, “This new centre will support WHO’s efforts to implement the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023, which aims to support countries in developing policies and action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine as part of their journey to universal health coverage and a healthier, fairer and safer world.”
He further stated that during the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for Ayurvedic products increased rapidly all around the world.
He said that compared to last year, this September has seen a 45% increase in the demand for Ayurvedic products, adding that spices considered to be immunity boosters also saw a surge in demand.
“This shows how much trust the world places in Ayurveda and Indian spices,” he added.
“Our traditional knowledge is enriching other nations as well. Ayurveda is part of Brazil’s national policy. Be it India-US or India-Germany relations, the support for AYUSH and Indian traditional medicinal techniques is constantly growing,” PM Modi said.
He said that during the monsoon session of Parliament, two new commissions had been set up, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine and the National Commission for Homeopathy.
According to a release from the AYUSH ministry, the occasion of Dhanteras as has been observed as ‘Ayurveda Day’ since 2016 and today marks its fifth anniversary.
The statement added that institute in Jamnagar has been conferred the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI) by an Act of the Parliament, and the one in Jaipur that of an Institution Deemed to be University by the University Grants Commission.
