The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd. (AVP), will soon set up an ayurveda treatment centre in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Karachi based Mehrunnisa Welfare Trust. If realised, this venture will be the first recognised Ayurveda hospital in Pakistan.
The Mehrunnisa Welfare Trust (MWT has submitted application to the Pakistan government seeking clearance for Ayurveda systems of medicine to be initiated in that country. Within a month, AVP will send a group of delegates to Pakistan to impress the Pak authorities on the advantages of Ayurveda system of treatment, it is learnt.
Sources said MWT had started civil works for an allopathic hospital with the name Mehrunnisa Hospital, in an approximate constructed area of 98112 sq ft with three blocks. Later, the Trust changed the plan to dedicate the facility as an ayurvedic treatment centre, after the promoter of the hospital underwent treatment at AVP. The new venture is envisaged to create awareness on Ayurveda in Pakistan and at a later stage, will start Ayurvedic drug production and an Aurvedic educational institution in Pakistan.
AVP will collaborate to provide technical management and expertise based on the inter country rules and regulations, provide essential medicines and oils and will offer trained staff, P R Krishnakumar, managing director, AVP told Pharmabiz.
He said AVP would offer adequate technical information and data to the Pakistan government for setting up SOPs for functioning of the clinics and hospital, as this venture is the first of its kind in Pakistan. Along with this, the company will also seek approval from the India government, once the Pakistan authorities give green signal.
The project is planned in a phased manner, in which the first phase will consist of setting up an outpatient Ayurveda clinic, propagate Ayurveda by conducting awareness programs, a training centre and to market a few medicine preparations based on the availability of raw materials in Pakistan. However, the Centre will be fully equipped with full range of Ayurveda medicines and products.
In future, the Trust will start an ayurveda teaching institution with full fledged approved ayurveda degree course, a research centre including provisions for clinical trials, production of ayurveda medicines and setting up of outpatient clinics in and around the centre aiming to make the MWT hospital a premier Ayurveda institute in Pakistan. The final phase will cover up gradation of the teaching institute to PG level, conducting national and international seminars and setting up of more Ayurveda teaching institutions and centres in the country.
"The idea was initiated by MWT and we are happy to join them to spread awareness on Ayurveda to as many places as possible. We do not have a time line for the project, as there are more points to be discussed by the governments of both the countries. The government of India should seriously consider this project which could help to improve mutual relations between the countries," said Krishnakumar.