Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (I-AIM) which was supported by the Tata Trust, Mumbai has now opened a 100-bed Ayurveda and Integrative Healthcare Centre at an investment of Rs.20 crore.
The facility was inaugurated by Ratan Tata, chairman Tata Group. The facility is part of the 17-year-old Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) which is an non-governmental organization focusing on traditional medicine research and product development.
IHC will focus on nine areas of ayurveda care which covers women –child health, mental health, geriatrics, diabetes, skin diseases, neurological disorders, musculo- sketal diseases, gastro intestinal tract and respiratory tract disorders besides preventive and promotive health. There is also provision for outpatient consultation and yoga therapies, special consultation on ophthalmology, biomedical consultation like ECG, ultrasound, x-ray, laboratory and physiotherapy. The hospital will offers ayurveda treatments based on diagnosis based on modern bio-medical science and traditional medicine methods. The Institute is recognized as a centre of national importance in traditional medicine by the government of India.
Dr Sam Pitroda, founder and chairman, I-AIM said that from a research centre carrying out studies on 15,000 herbal plants engaged in digitizing records to preserve the genetic groups, there was a need to move to the next level of growth. “This is how IHC was conceived to focus on traditional health systems. Western model of medicine is not scalable and sustainable in the long run and that is where traditional Indian model was being focused,” he added.
Although the key areas of interest of IAIM is diarrhea, anemia and diabetes where products are in clinical research stages, it has also engaged in the development of soups to treat colds, indigestion among other condition common health conditions. While the products are developed, we are looking for commercialization opportunities, informed Dr Pitroda.
The big challenge to upscale much of the product developments is the need for funds. We are looking to start a business arm to generate revenues to plough back into research and development initiatives. I-AIM as the erstwhile FRLHT was supported by United Nations, Ford Foundation and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Denmark Government's bilateral funding arm for developing countries. Efforts are also on to discuss with viable Private Equity and Venture Capitalists to look at its next round of assistance, stated Dr Pitroda.
When asked about the reason for the high cost of ayurveda treatment, Dr Pitroda stated that only large volumes could support economical pricing of traditional medicines.
According to Darshan Shankar, vice chairman, I-AIM, certain herbal products are in the clinical trials phase.
“Much of the developments after extensive research are showing significant efficacy and we will be able to share the details in a few months,” stated Dr GG Gangadharan, medical director, I-AIM.