Indian medicine systems must have scientific touch: Naik

The government is committed to promote various traditional systems of medicine and is making efforts to bring in conformity with the modern scientific paradigm, Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik said here today.
"Although traditional systems of medicine have their own science behind them, in order to improve their outreach, the government is paying serious attention to validate the traditional knowledge and bring that in conformity with the modern scientific paradigm," he said speaking at the inauguration of an upgraded biomedical laboratory at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine here.
A major challenge is to standardise the traditional systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy and Siddha, and ensure their quality, Naik said.

Efforts are being made to strengthen quality control and standardisation by evolving pharmacopeia standards and setting up Drug Testing Laboratories, Naik said.
Government is committed to promote these systems and has also made compliance of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) mandatory for ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani) drug manufacturing units, the minister said.
In addition, norms are being made more and more stringent to ensure compliance with the evolving world standards on the GMP, he added.

The worldwide acceptance of Indian systems, including Unani medicine, would depend on sound scientific explanations and specific strengths of these streams, Naik said.
He called upon the researchers of Unani and other Indian systems of medicines to devote themselves to strengthening their foundation on scientific lines.

The foundation stone laying ceremony of a new hospital block at the institute was also held on the occasion.