The largest ever-international conference on Ayurveda, the World Ayurveda Congress 2002, will have its attempt to establish Ayurveda globally, by considering the topographical variations and climatic conditions. An ambitions transcontinental network to promote sustainable healthcare packages using the traditional Indian Systems of Medicine will be established, in this regard.
Presenting the concept paper on the project in the second pre-Congress workshop organized at Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. S. Rajasekharan, Head, Ethno Medical Dept., TBGRI, pointed out, "The concept of linking Ayurveda and Information Technology is aimed at developing a global information network on primary health care packages in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania. Named as Continental -Based Ayurvedic Primary Health Care Package (CBAPHCP), it will seek to create an awareness on the latent power of the healing art of India."
Development of 50 scientifically designed software packages suitable to each continent, expected to take 10 years from formulation to execution', will form part of the project. The network will address various aspects of health care including prevention, promotion, correction and cure through a holistic approach based on dietary regimen (Hita Ahara), activities for conditioning the physical, mental and spiritual faculties (Hita Vihara), and application of medicine (Oushadha) to deal with specific diseases.
Dr. P. Sankaran Kutty, Former Director of Ayurveda Medical Education, Govt. of Kerala was of the opinion that there exists several imbalances in the practice of Ayurveda not only among nations but within Indian states also along with varying approach and formalities. Many Indian states as well as organizations with the Govt. of India didn't even recognize Ayurveda as an accepted treatment system, thereby denying fringe benefits like reimbursement for treatment etc.
As the World Ayurveda Congress - 2002 scheduled during November 1-4, 2002 is entering its last lap of preparations, confirmed participations from senior bureaucrats to diplomatic bigwigs have become a never-before reality. "With such an overwhelming response from the policy makers and industrialists, reaching a global consensus on Ayurveda raises more hopes" according to Dr. Rajasekharan.