International Arogya 2017

Introduction

International Arogya 2017 is the first ever International Conference on AYUSH and Wellness systems.
It was organized by the Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Pharmexcil in collaboration with FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry).
On 27 September 2017, FICCI had introduced the event in its launch programme at New Delhi.
International Arogya 2017 was held from 4th-7th of December 2017 in the backdrop of the National Health Policy 2017 to showcase the strengths of AYUSH systems and its linkages with industry.
The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Suresh Prabhu at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Ayur Aarogya was a brand started by the Ministry of AYUSH in the year 2001 and since then the event has really upscaled itself.

Background

India has signed several MOUs with foreign governments on cooperation in the field of traditional medicines. According to Mr Shripad Yesso Naik, the Minister of State for AYUSH, India is now keen to build institutional mechanisms and health systems having evidence-based approaches and practical experiences of the traditional medical systems.
This international conference is organized following these guidelines.
The immense potential of AYUSH for the wellbeing of mankind has been the focus of this gathering.

AYUSH - India's Rich Heritage

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
India has always been using the traditional medicines for health care and is continuously developing them with modern scientiﬁc outlook. It includes comprehensive scientiﬁc systems of medicine practised in India.
The young population of India, with rising income levels seek solutions to meet lifestyle challenges. These services/products are offered by the producers to meet the hygiene, curative and enhancement needs of the consumer.

Event Objectives

The basic objective of this programme is to give a desired push to the sectors (Ayush and Wellness)- to promote and strengthen awareness and interest about AYUSH.
To highlight the importance of Indian System of Medicine in the Global Context.
To facilitate International promotion, development and recognition of AYUSH to enhance the export of Ayush products.
To encourage interaction of stakeholders and give a boost to its products in the international markets.
To showcase the strength and developments of the AYUSH systems and its linkages with the industry.
To showcase what this fast growing and globally emerging sector can offer.
To help the industries and the people to avail a very less expensive and more effective method of treatment.

Event Highlights

Manufacturers from all over India displayed and launched AYUSH products and herbal food directly.
AYUSH specialists provided free consultations and free distribution of medicines.
Live yoga demonstrations were organized for treatment of common diseases.
Business and public lecture sessions were conducted.
B2B (Business-to-Business) Meet directly with manufacturers.
Awareness was spread about the importance of cultivation of medicinal plants.
Public awareness programmes regarding home remedies for common diseases were conducted.

AROGYA 2017: Highlights

The Plenary sessions

It witnessed participation of approximately 1500+ Indian delegates and delegates from more than 70 countries and visitors from all over the world who were keen to show their willingness to work for the development of traditional medicines.

The following sessions were conducted:

a) Theme Session: Enhancing the export potential of AYUSH
b) Plenary Session 1: Business opportunities in Integrative Healthcare
c) Plenary Session 2: Building a Brand Strategy: Healing Power of AYUSH for the World
d) Plenary Session 3: International Regulators Meet
e) Plenary Session 4: Standardization and Quality Control in AYUSH sector
f) Valedictory Session
g) Workshop on Essential Herbal Raw Materials required in AYUSH Industry.

It started with a welcoming address by the dignitaries.
To widespread the benefits of Ayurveda and Wellness, the screening of a promotional film on International Aarogya was presented.
The Ministry of Ayush has contributed tremendous efforts since 2016 to boost the system.
The current government has made The Ministry of AYUSH as an independent department. Earlier it was a department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This has been done simply to showcase the strengths of the system, take it to greater heights and to give it a due importance which it deserves.

Key Points discussed in the sessions

India has currently 23 countries where there are Ayush Information cells and country-to-country MOUs are already placed with many countries.
More than 250 traditional manufacturers participated in the conference. This shows that in the coming days this sector will emerge as a prominent economic entity resulting in enhanced transaction of AYUSH products and its related services.
The ministry is not only promoting development activities of traditional medicines at the national level but also looking at more international cooperation and collaboration opportunities at bilateral, multilateral, regional and global levels.
Declaration of June 21 as International Day of Yoga by the United Nations has generated global interest in yoga as well as a lot of cooperation opportunities for exchange of yoga information, expertise and qualified, certified and accredited yoga trainers.
India is not the only country with such knowledge. Through this conference, it is sharing its traditional medicine knowledge with humanity across the world and hopes to learn from the participants from other countries.
The Joint Secretary in Ministry of AYUSH, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak announced that the Government of India has signed MoUs with 11 countries and established 28 AYUSH informative cells till now. India has a number of system mechanisms to promote Ayush activities.
Approximately 80% of the world’s population use traditional form of medicines in some form or the other but the export for AYUSH products is only 0.005% of the total exports of India. This shows that there is a lot of scope for increasing the export of traditional medicines.
During the last couple of years, there is an immense popularity of traditional system of medicines including Yoga in other countries especially after Yoga was popularized by our honourable PM, Mr Narendra Modi.
India has one international cooperation scheme in which we support export activities of the industries. India supports registration of products in other countries, for organizing international seminars, for the participation of industries and for sending AYUSH representatives abroad.
In India, Ayush is allowing 7 systems other than the conventional systems of medicines which are officially recognized. Ever since India’s independence, there has been strong policy support to these systems.
To accord focussed attention and focussed opportunities for the growth and development of the Ayush sector within the country as well as outside the country.
India has around 600 Ayush colleges from where more than 30,000 Ayush practitioners are coming out every year and 8,667 licensed manufacturers of Ayush medicines and products.
India has around 214 colleges only for generics. The potential is only for the generics right now. In India, the scope of patents was very limited because the homoeopathy centres were less in number which
In India, there is a conducive ecosystem for the growth and development of Ayush systems. India has a regulated structure for education, for products, exclusive provisions are there in the Act for Ayurveda. Recently in the last 3-4 years, India has developed a system for insurance coverage to Ayush treatment.
There are many issues that need to be handled to propagate Ayurveda in a big way.
As of now, there are very few countries that recognize the Indian Ayurveda and Indian traditional systems of medicines. But they are now opening up and realizing the potential of Ayurveda.
The finished products export is worth USD 700 billion, and AYUSH raw material export from India is USD 3,000 million. There is a huge international market that needs to be exploited. India already exports its homeopathy products to countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia etc.
As far as efficacy is concerned, Homeopathy is growing at 25% every year
Some of the key points put up during the plenary sessions included, Business opportunities in Integrative Healthcare, and the necessity of ‘trans-disciplinary approach’ to promote Integrative healthcare framework.
It was also said that physicians should integrate their knowledge and practices. By incorporating modern systems of research and by educating people about the concept of Ayurveda, the brand AYUSH can be further expanded out of India.
AYUSH has emerged as a rising sector and its growth can be achieved by following the international standards besides State regulations.

National Health Policy 2017

The Union Cabinet approved the National Health Policy 2017 in March 2017, 15 years after the last health policy was issued, back in 2002.
It aims to create a healthy India where everyone has access to quality healthcare.
The main objective of this policy is basically to provide healthcare in an “assured manner” to all, and to address current and emerging challenges arising from the ever-changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological scenarios.
It intends to increase life expectancy at birth from 62.5 to 70 by 2025, reduce infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019 and achieve the global 2020 HIV target.
The policy proposes providing access to health care services and financial protection to all by making available free drugs, free diagnostics in all public hospitals.
It follows an incremental assurance-based approach.
It aims to provide comprehensive primary health care through the ‘Health and Wellness Centres’ and to give primary health care packages.