Ministry of Ayush signs MoU with Research and Information System for Developing Countries

The MoU will bring forth the overview of the Ayush Service sector and will serve the continuation of academic cooperation and collaboration with RIS 

The Ministry of Ayush and Research and Information System for Developing Countries, (RIS) New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. The MoU will bring forth the overview of the Ayush Service sector and will serve the continuation of academic cooperation and collaboration with RIS (a Policy Research autonomous institute of the Ministry of External Affairs). Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha signed the MoU on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush, whereas Director General Prof Sachin Chaturvedi was the signatory on behalf of RIS.

The Knowledge Partnership, through this MoU, will not only serve to strengthen academic cooperation and collaboration to undertake research, policy dialogue, and publications for national, regional and international, and international capacity building in the field of Indian traditional medicine but will also bring out Ayush Service Sector overview in a time-bound frame. Also, the academic cooperation between the Ministry of Ayush and RIS includes the continuance of the Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM). 

While signing the MoU, Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said that “Ministry of Ayush has started work way back with RIS and FITM was formed. Through FITM, RIS has contributed many policy papers, policy directions etc. Through this MoU, the Ministry of Ayush has agreed to continue this work.”

Kotecha also highlighted the earlier report of RIS (Ayush Sector in India: Prospects and Challenges) and stated, “Through this report, it becomes evident that the Ayush manufacturing sector has grown eight times in the last nine years. RIS will also come out with a similar report on the Ayush Service Sector in the time bound manner.” Kotecha also complimented RIS for carrying out the work actively, and for providing valuable insights for Ayush Sector.

Chaturvedi highlighted the scope of the MoU and said, “There is a continuous need of having an inclusive and broad overview of market estimates, products standardisation, regulations etc. in international trade, and FITM is continuously working towards it.”

Expounding on the burgeoning field of the Ayush sector, the DG Prof Sachin Chaturvedi said, “Ayush Sector has the potential of becoming the hub of Medical Tourism by providing significant foreign exchange even having a smaller tourist influx. RIS is working actively on the related roadmap since this is the need of an hour. The foremost work of RIS is to complete Ayush Services Sector estimation and RIS has given top priority to it.

Prof Sachin Chaturvedi also elaborated on safeguarding Biodiversity for the propagation of the Ayush Sector and said,” Growth of Ayush Sector is closely linked with safeguarding and maintenance of biodiversity and there is a need to think in new terms regarding Biodiversity Act 2002. From Ayush’s perspective, it is not only that we use biodiversity, but also to safeguard biodiversity for coming years. 

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Joint Secretary BK Singh, Joint Secretary Bhavna Saxena, Advisor Ayurveda Dr Manoj Nesari and Kostubh Upadhaya, Advisor Unani Dr MA Kasmi, Principal Consultant PK Pathak including senior officials of Ministry of Ayush, whereas Dr Namrata Pathak, Dr Sarin NS along with others from RIS and FITM were present.

PIB