Russia has expressed its keenness to take Ayurveda to new realms and to work with Kerala to see how best they can integrate the age-old system of medicine with theirs.
The intention to popularise Ayurveda in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries was conveyed by the Russian delegation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy when they called on him on Tuesday.
The nine-member Russian delegation included Deputy Minister of Health Kravoi Sergei Aledandrovich; S.V. Kalashnikov, chairman, Russian parliamentary committee on health; and representatives of Ayurveda Russia-India Association (ARIA).
The Chief Minister pledged full support for the delegation’s desire to take Ayurveda to new realms. The delegation conveyed to the Chief Minister their intention to recommend Ayurveda treatment in Russia, to promote the traditional system of medicine in Russian universities and to establish a chair.
“A memorandum of understanding will be signed between Kerala and the Russian government and this reflects the success of the visit of the Russian delegation to the State,” said M.R. Narayanan, a board member of ARIA who is hosting the delegation at Poovar.
Earlier, addressing a press conference, Dr. Kalashnikov said they were searching for new areas, especially Ayurveda, as the WHO had suggested adopting local knowledge. “Our visit is basically to look into the aspects of the cost, besides if this can be possibly integrated with our system of medicine,” he said.
The entire Russian delegation experienced Ayurveda at a resort at Poovar and will be here for another three days. They also visited the Government Ayurveda College here.
“We will conduct more studies on this and will also see how this can be applied with their modern system of medicine,” the Deputy Minister for Health of Russia said.
Russian doctors
President of ARIA K. Anitha said they would do all possible to promote Ayurveda and for that Russian doctors would have to be taught.
The delegation is in the State at the invitation of the State and the Department of Ayush of the Union Government. Russia is an emerging market for Kerala Tourism with chartered flights operating to the State capital since 2012. The tourism industry is also getting repeat tourists from Russia as many come frequently for genuine Ayurveda treatment.
