Herbal gardens to boost indigenous medicine
The first mega scale ‘Osu Oyana’ herbal garden will be set up in
Kurunegala this month to develop indigenous medicine, Health Minister
Rajitha Senaratne said at the launch of the fifth international
indigenous healthcare exhibition ‘Ayurveda Expo 2015’ conducted by the
National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL).
He said that the Ministry of Health will take steps to promote
indigenous medicine which is a growing segment in healthcare. We have
immense potential to develop this sector for the local and international
markets.
The first Osu Oyana will be a catalyst for the development of a
vibrant indigenous healthcare sector.
”There is plenty of land at the site in Kurunegala to expand herbal
medicinal cultivation. It would be ideal for private-public
partnerships”, the minister said. Acupuncture which originated in China
has expanded globally. We should promote ayurvedic treatment which would
help reduce the money spent on Western medicine.
Advanced technology is vital to develop indigenous medicine,
Senaratne said.
Views were expressed on the staggering cost of private sector
healthcare which needs to be regulated to make healthcare affordable to
all. The national drug policy based on Prof. Senaka Bibile's concept of
rational use of medicinal drugs which advocates the prescription of
affordable, safe and efficacious medicine to patients has to be
expidited.
The government's 100-day program includes the implementation of the
national drug policy.
Ayurveda Expo 2015, Steering Committee Chairman Dr. Danister Perera
said that Sri Lanka is a hotspot for herbal medicine and it could cater
to the growing market globally.
The global herbal market is expected to reach US $93 billion this
year.
“The challenge to indigenous medicine comes from Western medicine
which claims that ayurvedic treatment is slow and contains toxic
substances. The European Union has banned the import of ayurvedic
medicine”, he said.
He said that ayurvedic medicine could reduce the expenditure on
non-communicable diseases. Ayurveda Expo which was first launched in
2007 attracts exhibitors and buyers from the region and it promotes
indigenous medicine locally and internationally.
The expo will focus on manufacturers of herbal, nature-friendly food
and beverages, health resorts, spas, ayurveda hospitals, clinics
educational institutions, yoga, acupuncture, homeopathy, beautycare
products and herbal cosmetics.
Ayurveda Expo 2015 will be held from July 3-5 at the BMICH. |