Government of India is planning to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mongolia for sharing knowledge and mutual cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (TSM&H).

As part of this, the Union cabinet has approved the signing of the MoU between India and Mongolia. With this MoU, both countries will enhance their bilateral cooperation in the areas of traditional medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush). This will be of immense importance to both countries considering the shared historical and cultural legacy.

“Both India and Mongolia have rich cultural and traditional heritage. And the legacy of traditional medicine in both the countries is well profound. At this backdrop, the MoU will provide a structured framework for cooperation between the two countries for sharing the mutual traditional knowledge and for India this will help promote our Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in Mongolia,” informed a source in the health ministry.

In fact, India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. Even for Mongolia, the traditional medicine is considered to be significant component for its healthcare sector. For instance, 'Sowa Rigpa' is one of the Indian Traditional Systems of Medicine which is practiced in the Trans-Himalayan region and higher Himalayan parts of India. It is reported that a system similar to it is widely practiced in Mongolia as Traditional Mongolian Medicine.

Following the emergence of Mongolia as a modern nation state in the 20th Century, the two countries had continued to build relations based on shared historical and cultural legacy. In the recent years, the relationship between the two countries has been marked by close contacts at high level, including cooperation in the field of health and medicine.

Earlier, the Ministry of Ayush as a part of its mandate to propagate Indian Systems of Medicine globally had signed a MoU with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM), China, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, Hungary, Bangladesh and Nepal for cooperation in traditional medicine. Recently, a MoU on cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine & Homoeopathy was signed with Mauritius during the visit of the Prime Minister to Mauritius in March.

Along with this MoU, government of India has also approved signing of a similar cooperation agreement with Serbia.