World Ayurveda Foundation, part of Vijnana Bharati, the science and technology movement of India, in collaboration with Government of Madhya Pradesh, among other organizations have come together to conduct the 5th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo from December 7 to 10 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

This 5th edition with its theme as Enriching Public Health through Ayurveda will  throw light into the strengths of traditional science.

During this congress nearly half a million visitors and 500 participants from various countries are expected to participate. The Expo will involve trade and business association of national and international importance in this sector. “We have arranged lectures on health by eminent scientists, academicians, policy makers; plenary sessions on evolution of various concepts and parallel sessions emerging from the plenary topics,” said Tanuja Gokhale, convener, International Delegates' Assembly,5th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) & Arogya Expo 2012

Over ten years and through four congresses, WAC has emerged as a global forum for all stake holders. This is the largest ever conglomeration of people having passion towards Ayurveda. Around 4000 delegates including more than 500 from various countries are expected for this mega event. The major attraction for foreign delegates would be International Delegates’ Assembly which was formed at 3rd WAC and which provides a platform to share, understand and discuss experiences and hurdles / issues regarding promotion of Ayurveda in various countries, by eminent dignitaries of national and international repute. The remarkable impact of this global summit is encompassed in the enclosed brochure, stated Gokhale.

There are major efforts by the government of India to encourage the Indian System of Traditional Medicine. In 2009/10, with due credit to the Department of Ayush, Government of India, 2368 doctors and 2184 para-medics were appointed. Ayush practitioners, mostly from the Ayurveda stream, have been co-located in 1918 public health centres, 171 community health centres, and 46 district hospitals. The Department of Ayush also initiated several public health campaigns such as ‘Ayurveda for Anaemia’ and ‘National Campaign on Amla’.

Therefore the focus of the 5th Edition of the Congress is to To facilitate acceptance and recognition for Ayurveda as a complete health system adoptable globally, create appropriate platforms for ‘scientific backing’ of Ayurveda along with suitable infrastructure to popularize the outcomes and make Ayurveda an integral part of health-care management, according to the organizers.

Another attraction is the 'International Students' & Teachers' Meet' which is being organized for the first time from December 6 to 10 2012 where 100 Ayurveda students from abroad will be able to interact with leading Ayurveda Gurus. In this regard, a letter from Ayush Secretary is being sent to all the Embassies of respective countries requesting speedy approval and other formalities of visa applications for those who wish to attend the Congress.

In addition, the 3rd International Delegates’ Assembly will be held at the same venue on December 8 and 9, 2012. The first IDA was held at Jaipur, Rajasthan on December 18, 2008 and the second was held at Bengaluru between December 9 and 10, 2010.