Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence to promote research and dissemination of Traditional Medicine during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit held in Bangkok.

While announcing the initiative, Shri Narendra Modi said, “Public health is a vital pillar of our collective social development. I am pleased to announce that India will extend support for training and capacity building in cancer care across BIMSTEC countries. In line with our holistic approach to health, a Centre of Excellence will also be established to promote research and dissemination of traditional medicine”.

It is worth noting that Thailand and India have robust Traditional Medicine Systems with close mutual ties. With this announcement by the Prime Minister, the research and development activity in the area is set to get a significant boost. The two countries have been working together to strengthen, promote, facilitate and develop academic & research collaboration in Traditional Medicine.

This may also be noted that last year the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, under the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India and the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on the establishment of an Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine.

In academic collaboration, the Ayush Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India is offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The scholarship is provided for Undergraduate and Post-Graduate studies in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy, B.Sc. in Yoga, B.A. in Yoga Shastra, Ph.D in Yoga and Ph.D in Ayurveda. During the past five years, 175 students from BIMSTEC regions have availed the scholarships.

India and Thailand have a long history of cooperation in various sectors including Traditional Medicine. The announcement of establishing a Centre of Excellence to promote research and dissemination of Traditional Medicine will further strengthen these ties.

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MV/AKS