After spreading its wings across the globe, the Indian systems of medicine are on a harmonization drive by setting standards for themselves and focusing on quality aspects, said Union Health Minister Dr Ambumani Ramadoss.

He was inaugurating the AROGYA, a comprehensive International Health Fair on Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy here on Friday, being organized by the Department of AYUSH, in association with other partners. Union Minister of State for Health Panambaka Lakshmi and Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh were also present at the inaugural function.

The three-day event, aimed at projecting the capabilities and requirements of these systems in modern day health care, current research trends and exhibiting work of Research Institutions under this Department, got off to a sedate start with visitors tricking in.

The Health Minister said more and more countries were interested in getting support from India in establishing the ayurveda system and setting standards. Health Ministers from 11 countries have so far contacted with the demand, he added, while briefing the achievements of the sector in the past.

The fair till 2004 used to be organized annually only at Delhi. However, on popular demand, since 2005 regional fairs have also been organized at Chennai in January 2005 and February 2006 at Hyderabad in November 2005 and at Dehradun in April 2007. This year regional fairs are proposed to be organized at Indore from 14th - 17th December 2007 and at Amritsar from 7th - 10th February 2008.

As many as 32 international delegates from 16 countries are participating in the AROGYA fair, mostly dominated by the domestic companies. These comprise of regulators, distributors, consultants and academicians related with traditional medicine (TM) and natural products. An International meet of TM Regulators and Industry is being organized by PHARMEXCIL and Ministry of Commerce.

International buyer seller meet & conference on herbal and medicinal plants, live yoga demonstration by experts with personal counseling for treatment of various diseases through Yoga and Naturopathy, free health check ups, lectures and counseling by specialists, demonstration of home remedies for common ailments sale of ISM&H drugs and natural foods and display and sale of medicinal plants are the highlights of the event.