In a move to focus on promotion and development of Indian traditional medicines, especially Ayurveda, the health ministry of Kerala has decided to set up a separate department for Ayush systems. The director of state NRHM wing, Dr K Beena has been made additional secretary to commence the preliminary work for the formation of the department.

The government’s decision has come in the wake of incessant efforts exerted by the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) for the purpose for years. AMAI has welcomed the decision of the government and cancelled the agitation they planned from next week.

According to government sources, though all the groundwork for creation of the department is on, the blueprint doesn’t include an independent drugs control administration for Ayurveda which is still under the control of the allopathy DCA.

With the department commencing operation, various health developmental schemes being introduced by central Ayush department can be implemented in Kerala and the state will be able to get more funds from centre, observed Dr Rejith Anand, general secretary of the Ayurveda Medical Association.

He said once the department is in force, Kerala will become the 13th state in the country with separate department for Ayush. According to him, the creation of a new department for Ayush within the health ministry reflects a genuine determination on the part of the government to develop Ayurveda system. He said the creation of the department will redress the problems faced by the Ayurveda sector presently.

Though Kerala is the hub of Ayurveda, the promotional schemes for the system are very weak and no development is taken place in the field at present. The stakeholders now hope that on formation of the department, it will push up the research activities, drug production, Ayurveda tourism and encourage cultivation of medicinal plants.