Collaboration with WHO on Traditional Medicines

Project Collaboration Agreement was signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) on 13th May2016. Under the agreement, India would assign to WHO activities for development of the following WHO Technical documents/ publications:-

• Benchmarks for training in Yoga

• Benchmarks for practice in Ayurveda

• Benchmarks for practice in Unani Medicine

• Benchmarks for practice in Panchkarma

As per the agreement, the estimated expenditure to be incurred amounts to US $977,040. The outgo will be in four instalments. First instalment to be paid within two months after the agreement is signed (US$ 123,170); second by the end of July 2016 (US $ 210,180); third by the end of July 2017 (US $ 151,420) and the fourth by the end of July 2018 (USD $ 202,270). The balance amount of US 290,000 would be incurred in India.The end date of the Project would be 31st December, 2020.

The Ministry has signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/ Letters of Intent (LoIs) for ‘Country to Country’ Cooperation/Collaborative Research in the field of Traditional Medicine and MoUs for setting up of AYUSH Academic Chairs. For dissemination of authentic information about AYUSH medicines, 20 AYUSH Information Cells have been set up in the premises of Indian Missions/Cultural Centres.

The Ministry of AYUSH participates/organizes International exhibitions/ conferences / workshops / seminars / sympo-siums, etc in India and abroad through Indian missions/ CII/ FICCI/ ITPO/ ASSOCHAM/ Pharmexcil etc. The Ministry of AYUSH also organizes comprehensive health fairs on Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy namely AROGYA to promote awareness and showcase strengths of these systems through the reputed Organizations like Chemexil, Pharmexil, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, ICC, ITPO etc and other reputed NGOs and the state Governments. To encourage the citizens to adopt AYUSH systems of medicine across the country, the Ministry also undertakes publicity campaigns and other promotional activities through print/ electronic media.