President Droupadi Murmu Advocates Promotion Of Integrated System Of Medicines

NEW DELHI: Describing Ayurveda as India’s invaluable gift to the world, President Droupadi Murmu has said that it is time emphasis was laid on promotion of integrated system of medicine.

Participating in the 7^th foundation day of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi on October 9, 2024, Murmu said that Ayurveda was one of the oldest medical systems in the world.

Holistic health management

Ayurveda emphasises holistic health management while maintaining a balance between mind, body and spirit, she said.

“We have been aware of the medicinal value of the trees and plants. In tribal society, the knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants has been richer. But as society embraced modernity, we stopped using that traditional knowledge. It became easier to get medicine from a doctor than adopt home remedies. Awareness among people is increasing now. Integrative System of Medicine is becoming popular across the globe. Different medical systems are helping to provide health to people as complementary systems to each other,” she said.

The President said that India has unwavering faith in Ayurveda since generations. Some people take advantage of this faith and cheat innocent people. They spread misleading information and make false claims, which not only harm the money and health of the public but also defame Ayurveda.

More qualified doctors are needed so that people do not have to go to uneducated doctors, she said and expressed happiness that the number of Ayurveda colleges and students has increased significantly.

The President said that the development of Ayurveda will not only be beneficial for humans but also for animals and the environment. Many trees and plants are becoming extinct because we do not know about their utility. When we know their importance, we will preserve them.

Healthy competition

She said that people associated with different systems of medicine claim that their system is the best. “It is good to have a healthy competition, but there should not be any attempt to criticize each other. There should be a sense of cooperation among people associated with different systems of medicine. The aim is to do good to humanity by curing patients,” she said.

The President further said that focus should be laid on research and improvement in the quality of medicines to ensure that Ayurveda remains relevant.

It is happy to note that the All India Institute of Ayurveda, combining traditional education with modern technology, has made its important place in Ayurvedic medicine, education, research and overall healthcare in a short span of time, she added.