India, WHO ink pact to promote yoga, ayurveda

“AYUSH ministry and WHO have signed a historic Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) for cooperation on promoting the quality, safety and effectiveness of service provision in traditional and complementary medicine,” an official statement said.

The PCA was signed by AYUSH ministry secretary Ajit M Sharan and Marie Kieny, assistant director general, Health Systems and Innovations, WHO in Geneva on Friday.

AYUSH secretary Ajit Mohan Sharan and assistant director general, health systems and innovations, WHO, Dr Marie Kieny sign the agreement for collaboration in traditional systems of medicine. (PTI)

The agreement titled ‘Co-operation on promoting the quality, safety and effectiveness of service provision in traditional and complementary medicine between WHO and AYUSH, India, 2016-2020’, aims to support WHO in the development and implementation of the ‘WHO Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023. “We should make India free from diseases and it is the first step towards this. World Yoga Day was celebrated on 21 June. The preparations for the second World Yoga Day are going on for the last two months,” he said.

Naik presented ‘Sandu Ayurveda Gaurav’ and ‘Sandu Ayurveda Bhushan’ awards to veteran doctors for rendering continuous and devoted service in the field of Ayurveda.

Naik further said we will celebrate the World Ayurveda day soon.

Stating the future of Ayurveda is bright, Naik said it is needed to promote and spread the ancient practise of medicine. It will also contribute to the global promotion of traditional Indian systems of medicine.

Minister of state for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik and director-general, WHO Margaret Chan witnessed the agreement signing ceremony in Geneva.