The Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), an NGO promoting local health traditions and drug research, is planning to set up an international university in Ayurveda Siddha, Unani, Tibetan medicine and local health traditions.

The Foundation has earmarked Rs. 100 crore for the University and a hospital project for which the construction is expected to begin in early 2005. The first phase of the University-hospital project will be commissioned by launching a 'School of Learning in Traditional Medicine' in January 2006, which will eventually evolve into a University as the teaching programmes progress.

The NGO is also likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with other 20 centres in India those are already recognized as School of Learning in Traditional Medicines.

In this connection, Dr. Sam Pitroda, founder & chairman FRLHT, who was in Bangalore, met the FRLHT board to help identify individuals in the US to support the venture. Dr Pitroda has insisted that FRLHT in Bangalore should network with specialized centres of traditional medicine in the country to capitalize on their strengths.

FRLHT's expertise in plant conservation, bio-herbarium, clinical and applied aspects of traditional medicine will support the University and hospital," Dr. GG Gangadharan, joint director, FRLHT, informed Pharmabiz.com

The School of Learning will offer short-term intensive courses only to graduates in Ayurveda and other branches of Indian Systems of Medicine. There will be a slot for housewives, representatives from the (NGOs) and health workers. The telemedicine technology will also be adopted to speed up teaching and treatment methodologies. The duration, syllabus and fees for the courses are being worked out, Dr. Gangadharan said.

Both the University and hospital project are a first-of-a-kind in the country, which are expected to come up in a 20-acre campus at Attur, Yelahanka in the outskirts of Bangalore.

The project's objective is to bring alive age-old concepts of home remedies used for common ailments by helping participants to identify medicinal herbs and to help treat simple diseases," he explained.

The hospital is likely to have a clinical trial facility to study evidence-based analysis of the disease and its treatment options. The facility is intended to provide documented outcome of traditional medicine treatment. A patient's health condition will be documented using modern diagnostic methods. An analysis of his pre-treatment physiological, mental, spiritual and planetary conditions will be assessed.

A similar record of the same parameters will also be maintained after treatment. An Ayurveda, unani or siddha drug will be one of the components of the treatment, which is supported by lifestyle and diet, he explained. "The documented research would be a base for Indian Systems of Medicine for which studies in reverse pharmacology will be conducted to assess how a drug has worked in a disease condition," he added.