As the efforts are on to take Indian herbal products to all key markets in the world, it is expected that the country could emerge as one of the major players in the global herbal industry, which is likely to touch $1 trillion within the next 40 years, according to Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

While speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day 'Arogya 2005' exhibition, organized by Department of Ayush and ITPO in Chennai, minister noted that the trend among people now is to go back to plant-based treatment methods. In US, 25 per cent of the people now rely on plant-based medicines.

Currently India's share is only 2 per cent, while China has over 60 per cent of the global market share. Efforts are on to tap the potential of Indian Systems of Medicine in the field of health tourism and rejuvenation therapy. The government is also in the process of developing holistic systems of medicine, by integrating various treatment methodologies. Since our healthcare systems did not emphasis much on preventive medicine, efforts are also on to develop drugs for prevention of diseases, the minister noted.

Adding that the Indian Government had to spend over $ 600 000 for de-patenting turmeric, the minister said a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library has been set up and is being linked to the WIPO. Similarly, the government is setting up Medicinal Plant Promotion Zones under the National Medicinal Plants Board and is devising strategies for large-scale medicinal plant cultivation by farmers with buyback and export arrangement with the involvement of the commerce ministry.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Surjith Singh Barnala, governor, Tamil Nadu said India had about 7 lakh Ayush practitioners, 25000 Ayush dispensaries, 3000 Ayush hospitals and about 450 medical colleges producing about 25000 professionals every year, and this vast manpower should be effectively utilized in our healthcare delivery programmes. India should learn from China for utilizing our traditional knowledge for the development of our healthcare systems. Kerala and Tamil Nadu have integrated ISMs in their healthcare delivery, and the health indicators of these two states show the difference compared to other states. The experience of these two states should be replicated in other states, opined Barnala.

Panabaka Lakshmi, union minister for state, health & family welfare, elaborated on Aarogya exhibition. Palat Mohandas, secretary, department of AYUSH, welcomed the gathering.