Dehradun: With Ayurveda gaining widespread popularity globally, international delegates gathered at the 10th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) in Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun to discuss strategies for integrating the ancient Indian medicine system into mainstream healthcare in their respective countries. They emphasized on worldwide recognition of Ayurveda as an alternative system of medicines.
During the WAC International Delegates Assembly (IDA), participants praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his global advocacy of Ayurveda and called for increased government-to-government collaboration to achieve broader recognition of Ayurveda as a complementary or alternative system of medicine. Approximately 300 delegates from various countries attended the IDA.
Foreign delegates highlighted the growing demand for Ayurveda in their countries
Delegates from various countries like Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Portugal, Poland, Argentina and Brazil highlighted the growing demand for Ayurveda in their countries. They emphasized that it can only be offered as a lifestyle or wellness system currently in their countries. Moreover, they also elaborated on the regulatory and other hurdles in the development of Ayurveda and suggested ways so that the Government and the World Ayurveda Foundation (organisers of the WAC) could help overcome them
Ayush ministry support all efforts to promote ayurveda around the globe
Inaugurating the IDA, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Union Secretary AYUSH, said during the discussion that his Ministry is extending all kinds of support to promote Ayurveda around the globe. For this, the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) was established at Jamnagar in Gujarat in 2022 with a $250-million investment to raise the global profile of traditional medicine systems in India, he said. Additionally, he also urged Ayurveda stakeholders worldwide to work with GTMC and the Ayush Ministry to address issues and concerns.
Ayurveda’s growth continues to attract intense lobbying against it by sections of the media
Dr. Dileep Ghosh from NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University highlighted that Ayurveda represents a $6.2 billion industry in Australia, which has a population of just 19 million. This rapid growth has led to significant media scrutiny, especially following negative reports like the recent ban on certain Ayurvedic herbs in Europe.
In Brazil, there are 4,000 Ayurvedic practitioners who are legally recognized as “therapists,” according to Dr. Jose Rugue, President of the World Movement for Yoga and Ayurveda, associated with the Suddha Saba Yoga and Ayurveda Ashram. Rio de Janeiro hosts three Ayurvedic centres conducting limited research, with demand indicating potential for more such centres in the future.
Ayurveda scene in Germany was starkly different
According to Dr Harsha Gramminger, the Ayurveda scene in Germany was starkly different. She is a pioneer in bringing ayurveda treatments and products to the EU country. In Germany, she works at a hospital that offers integrated treatment with both ayurveda and allopathy. “We have very good educational institutions there and have made great achievements in the field of ayurveda. Besides, I would like to see ayurveda in every hospital, offering medicines and not just food products” she said.
Nepal and Sri Lanka delegates were happy with the growth of Ayurveda in their countries
Delegates from Nepal and Sri Lanka expressed satisfaction with the growth of Ayurveda in their respective countries. Dr. MG Sajeewani, Consultant at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, highlighted that six university-affiliated institutes offer Ayurveda degree courses. Dr. Pushpa Raj Poudel, Head of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine at Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population, noted that Nepal is home to South Asia’s oldest pharmacy, dating back three centuries, and emphasized that the Ayurveda healthcare system is well-developed and widely accepted in Nepal.
The session also featured contributions from Dr. Vidhu Sharma and Ann Vlass (Australia), Dr. Shilpa Swar (Singapore), Dr. Kim Seok Jeong (South Korea), Dr. Shivani Sood (Poland), Dr. Gabriela Paleta (Portugal), and Dr. Jorge Berra (Argentina).
