The first of its kind automated treatment equipments for panchakarma, jointly developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, will be ready for technology transfer within two months.

According to Dr. G S Lavekar, director, CCRAS, the council is on the look out for hospital equipment manufacturing companies to take over the technology for manufacturing. CCRAS will opt the tender route to shortlist potential buyers. The product has potential to catapult the quality, standards and service delivery of the many-century old panchakarma treatment methods, and may open up huge potential in the field of health tourism.

The fully computerised multipurpose laser beam-guided ‘Dhara yantra’, steam bath equipment with provision for controlling the level of steam, temperature, bathing, medicated steam therapy and ‘ksharasutra’ for treating piles, fistula etc. constitute the automated panchakarma unit, as Pharmabiz reported earlier.

CCRAS is also planning to experiment automation of Indian medicinal drug manufacturing machinery and intends to rope in machinery manufacturing companies in the ISM sector to join as sleeping partners for the project. CCRAS has initiated another project jointly with Amul India Pvt. Ltd. and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad for developing a neutraceutical supplement to enhance the memory and cognitive capacity of school children. The project will be started by October, this year, informed Lavekar.