Aiming at a major overhaul of the practice and teaching of indigenous medicine, including Ayurveda, Yoga, and Unani, documentation and data collection will be made systematic, and a new integrative approach with modern medicine will be adopted, said Dr. Rajesh Kotecha, Special Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, here on Sunday.
Information Technology will be the backbone of AYUSH systems in the country, as it will provide a platform to collate information on various indigenous treatment methods that will help create a database for future research, he added.
Dr. Kotecha was participating as the chief guest at Amrita Samyogam 2017, an international conference on integrative Ayurveda and modern medicine, organised by the School of Ayurveda, Amrita University, in association with Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. According to him, the system will be evolved in such a manner that all practitioners can contribute to case recording. Pointing out that integration is different from integrative approach, he said Ayurveda was not just medicine but “health and life”.
Role of Ayurveda
He said it was high time Ayurveda addressed issues like maternal and infant mortality rates and life expectancy. “Ayurveda should ensure quality life and happiness,” Dr. Kotecha observed.
Dr. Vanita Murali Kumar, president, Central Council of Indian Medicine, stressed the need for revamping the education system.
More than 60 experts in integrative medicine from six countries are attending the meet. The participants will identify strategies for integrating Ayurveda with Allopathy in the management of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.