The Ministry of AYUSH announced that India would soon resume exports of AYUSH products in European Union (EU) and other developed parts of the world as it has successfully resolved the contentious issues that led to the ban of AYUSH products in such markets either bilaterally or intensively engaging with WHO and WTO, disclosed its Joint Secretary, Mr. Jitendra Sharma.
Speaking on the occasion of 2nd National Conference “Mainstreaming AYUSH” under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, Mr. Sharma said, “AYUSH Ministry has intensely been engaging with authorities in EU and other parts of the developed world including Australia bilaterally to lift the export ban, imposed on such products of medicinal and health care nature including with WHO and WTO as well with due diligence with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The latest emerging indications of its parleys and negotiations indicate that wherever, Indian AYUSH products faced the export bans and even perceived threat for refusal of their acceptance is a matter that has been successfully sorted out”.
The Joint Secretary hoped that in the backdrop of this latest development, the manufacturers of AYUSH products will improve their quality as per prescribed standards to save India any sort of embarrassment.
On a query raised during the conference on the expectations of Union AYUSH Ministry in the forthcoming budget, Mr. Sharma exuded confidence that in budget proposals for 2016-17, the ministry would definitely get higher allocations. “I wish to emphasis here that more than higher allocations, what is important for the AYUSH ministry is if it has utilized the allocated budgetary support for promotion of AYUSH in the current fiscal. I am glad to report that the ministry has utilized Rs.720 crores until January 2015 out of its total allocations of Rs.900 crores for the fiscal 2015-16”, he said.
Speaking on the occasion the Chairman, Committee on AYUSH, PHD Chamber, Mr. Pradeep Multani expressed the need to have a separate drug controller for Indian medicine in line with the government’s initiative of creating a separate ministry. He also reiterated the commitment of the Chamber that it would provide all the necessary inputs and suggestions to the Ministry of AYUSH to promote it so that AYUSH evolves equally with modern medicine.
In his address its Co-Chairman, Dr. J L N Sastry demanded the higher GDP allocations for promotion of AYUSH and sought right policy framework from the government so that it gets a level playing field to take AYUSH on par with allopathy.