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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.

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