The Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) is all set to submit a development proposal to the government of Kerala to consider it to be incorporated into the Ayurveda Health Plan of the 10 point programme framed by the chairman of the National Innovation Council and mentor of Kerala, Sam Pitroda.

Sam Pitroda’s 10 point business plan for Kerala comprises, among others, Ayurveda which is envisaged to be escalated into international acceptance and recognition by accessing modern technology.

In the draft proposal prepared by AMAI, it is said that the concept of state’s health tourism should be overhauled keeping in view of wider concepts. For example, AMAI suggests for a change in the current widely accepted ‘Spa’ style into a wider realm of scientific treatment. The tour packages should be connected with clinical possibilities such as osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, motor neurone diseases, auto immune diseases etc. by which the concept of health tourism could be broadened. Impetus can be given to speciality clinics in public and private sectors for Marma (orthopaedics), Netra (ophthalmology), Maanasika (psychology), Streeroga (women health), Balaroga (paediatrics) etc.

AMAI wants the government to develop protocols for unified and scientific treatment for each disease, etiology, diagnosis, treatment principles, stages of medicines, procedures, food regimen and prophylaxis. The ayurvedic industry in the state should be revamped by utilizing state of the art technology which would help raise the manufacturing standards of classical formulations internationally acceptable. Kerala’s Ayush Cluster, Care Keralam, should be encouraged for that purpose, the association wants the government.

Export of ayurvedic medicines has very good scope for Kerala and the state can supply human resources to the health sector of other countries. For promotion of clinically proved ayurvedic formulations, the industry needs to be upgraded to international standards. Researches to evaluate basic principles of Ayurveda, new drug development and clinical researches should be undertaken through interaction with universities in other countries. Knowledge exchange with nations will help acceptance of Ayurveda by foreign countries, the draft proposal of AMAI says.

According to Dr Rejith Anand, the general secretary of AMAI, the association will interact with the health minister while submitting the proposal. He said Ayurveda system is able to contribute treatment methods for the prevention of communicable diseases and services of rehabilitation. The association wants the government to utilize the potential of the system to counter the present health crisis.

Seeking measures to cultivate medicinal plants, AMAI hopes that Hi-Tech methods of cultivation will help huge quantity of production of raw drugs. Community herbal garden, kitchen herbal garden, project of medicinal plant board and NABARD should be encouraged in this regard.

For the development of the sector, the potential of the academia can be utilized and it is a powerful weapon for the government to implement all the health projects. The draft proposal says that Kerala is looking for an integrated health system in which Ayurveda can play a major role.