Department of Ayush is keen to enter into a dialogue with the European Union for acceptance and marketing Ayurveda drugs in the region. This is on similar lines that of the approval and acknowledgment of traditional Chinese medicine.

The government officials are looking for an opportunity to discuss the way forward for Ayurveda drugs from India during the 2nd European World Ayurveda Congress to be held at Koblenz on October 15 and 16, 2016 at Germany.

“Currently, some countries have recognized the benefits of Ayurveda drugs and we are trying to look at the others. Our objective is to ensure Ayurveda drugs have a wider reach in the European Union and gain wide acceptance as a complimentary treatment option with modern medicines”, Dr P V Appaji, director general, Pharmexcil told Pharmabiz.

“Now our government officials are trying to arrange a meeting. Several efforts have been made to convince the European Union on the benefits of Indian Ayurveda drugs. Pharmexcil will take on the onus to guide the Indian Ayurveda industry to export to the EU”, added Dr. Appaji.

According to DBA Narayana, leading Ayurveda scientists and consultant, efforts by the department of Ayush is a step in the right direction. For over two decades popularizing Ayurveda has yielded good results. However, the goal should be to allow the practice of Ayurveda as another healthcare system in the European Union countries. The discussion during this meeting at the 2nd European World Ayurveda Congress at Koblenz should ensure including seeking the permission of Ayurveda drugs to be imported as a drug.

“Citizens of European Union should not be deprived using different healthcare systems. They should be allowed to access Ayurveda medicines which have a long history of documentation for safe use and efficacy,” pointed out Dr. Narayana.

The European World Ayurveda Congress is probably the largest Ayurveda event held outside India and it is for the second time the EUAA (European Union Ayurveda Association) in cooperation with partners from India will be hosts of the event which attracts professionals from the traditional system of medicine.

“These are interesting times and big changes await not just for the pharma industry but for all aspects of life and living for mankind, the world over. Indian pharma interests need to do a deep soul-search, re-position and refine strategies and start considering our wealth of ancient systems more seriously before it is hijacked,” said Dr. Madan Thangavelu, trustee, Research Council for Complementary Medicine (UK), Cambridge, UK who is one of the key speakers addressing on the topic ‘Ayush: Informing future medicine, medial research & shaping the sciences of diseases, preventive and wellness’.