Government of Karnataka has now planned a district level medicinal plant cultivation programme. As part of this programme, the district deputy commissioners (DDC) will allot a minimum of 10 acres of land in each district for medicinal plantation. The land will be allotted to grow medicinal plants in all districts and taluk centres with the help of ayurveda dispensaries and hospitals.

Two months ago the state government of Karnataka had also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 51 ayurveda educational institutions to manage the cultivation of herbal plants to be used by students for research.

The state government has already communicated to all deputy commissioners to allot at least 10 acres of land. The deputy commissioner of Shimoga has already come forward with the proposal to set aside the land for the project. The other districts DC's are expected to follow.

The directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine will supervise the land and the yields will be utilised only by hospitals for processing the drugs, Nafees Fazal minister of state for science and technology and the Indian Systems of Medicine told Pharambiz.com

The state government is also keen to set up a research and development laboratory to carry out research on AIDS. In this connection, it has also submitted a proposal to the Bill Gates Foundation seeking Rs. 1 crore assistance for carrying out research on AIDS in the Indian System of Medicine and find a cure.

"The proposal is now pending before the Bill Gates Foundation which should be considered soon," she added.

The Department of Indian System of Medicine has its wings in 19 district hospitals in Kolar, Tumkur, Chamrajanagar, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Hassan, Davangere, Haveri, Dharwad, Mangalore, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Raichur, Bellary, Gulbarga and Koppal under a centrally sponsored scheme. The centre would provide Rs.35 lakh grant for opening the facilities in the districts besides additional funds of Rs. 15 lakh for setting up Panchakarma units. Large government hospitals like the Bowring & Lady Curzon, Victoria Hospital and KC General Hospital will be given an assistance of Rs.22 lakh for setting up Panchakarma centres. The ayurveda, unani, and homeopathy departments are already functioning at Victoria and Bowring Hospitals, she informed.

There are 739 dispensaries in the state and the government was releasing Rs.18, 000 to each dispensary for the purchase of drugs. Under another centrally sponsored scheme, the state was to disburse Rs. 25,000 each, to 60 ayurveda hospitals in the state for purchase of medicines. A proposal would be sent to the union government to release funds for the other remaining hospitals. Outdoor treatment centres would be established in Koppal and Chitradurga district hospitals owing to the non-availability of buildings. A sum of Rs. 10 lakh each would be released to set up the centres.

The government would also shortly set up a regional science centre in Dharwad for which the members nominated include the science and technology secretary, deputy commissioner of Dharwad, representatives of the ISRO, vice chancellor and registrar of the Dharwad University.