The Centre would strengthen and improve quality and reach of Indian medicine services, Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik said today.
Inaugurating the four-day National AROGYA Expo 2015, the largest fair in complementary and alternative health care here, he said AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) services would be improved at all levels from primary health centres to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
"The government is approaching UNESCO in considering yoga a subject of Indian cultural heritage," he added.
Stating that India would sign MoUs on bilateral ties with other countries to set up Indian alternative medicine centres, he said that so far, Hungary, Bangladesh, Mauritius and Nepal have signed pacts in this regard.
The May 21-24 expo is being organised by the Ministry of AYUSH in association with World Ayurveda Foundation, Kerala Government and Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology here to foster the growth of AYUSH and popularising it among the common man.
Kerala Health Minister V S Sivakumar said AYUSH department under the state government would start functioning by next week.
He also said that government had taken steps to start an ayurveda university headquartered in Kottakal.
