The Coimbatore-based Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Ltd's plan to venture into Pakistan market is taking shape. AVP's partner, Karachi-based Mehrunnisa Welfare Trust (MWT) has submitted the proposal to the government seeking permission to start the hospital with AVP in Pakistan and AVP was asked to contact the Islamabad Embassy in New Delhi for seeking Visa.

According to Dr Prasad, AVP's assistant director for administration and operations, the confirmation letter is expected to reach AVP by May 20. The officials have asked them to start a 250-bedded allopathic and 200-bedded ayurvedic hospital with teaching facilities. The teaching would be only on the technical aspect initially and not academic.

The AVP administration is planning to induct 200 staff from Pakistan itself and train them in Ayurvedic concepts. The training will be conducted in two batches. "The time to set up the hospital would take anywhere between 6 months and one year. By then, we want to recruit and train the staff. We want to induct people from Pakistan itself," said Prasad.

He said, that the people who would be appointed should be trained enough to know the names of the medicines and their effect. Moreover they need to know the techniques of massage and panchakarma procedures. They will also be trained in making food as diet forms a core part of ayurvedic treatment.

Once the letter reaches AVP, the institution will be sending a committee to study the scenario there. They will also be looking into the issue of funds and other financial issues. Inspection of the infrastructure and proposed facilities for the hospital will also be looked into.

Speaking about starting their operations there, Prasad said that it would be a difficult task to accomplish as permission for an Indian company to start operations individually will not be granted so easily.

As Pharmabiz had reported earlier, AVP will collaborate to provide technical management and expertise based on the inter country rules and regulations, provide essential medicines and oils and will train staff.

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.