health

Updated: Sep 12, 2017 20:04 IST

India on Tuesday got its first virology laboratory to develop homoeopathy drugs against diseases such as H1N1 (swine flu), dengue, chikungunya etc.

Union minister of state for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Shripad Yesso Naik, inaugurated the state-of-the art laboratory at Kolkata’s Dr Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy (RRIH).

“This laboratory has been established to develop new drugs and technologies in homoeopathy to combat emerging challenges of viral diseases,” said Naik, while launching the laboratory.

The laboratory is recognized by the Calcutta University to undertake research work of the PhD students in the field of homoeopathy.

The laboratory, established at a cost of ₹ 8 crore, is the only one in India for conducting basic and fundamental research in homoeopathy for viral diseases such as influenza, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikunguniya and swine flu. The laboratory will also be used to create new drugs and technologies in treating these viral diseases.

West Bengal’s National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) and RRIH are expected to actively collaborate to impart practical training to the students and research scholars in virus research, both in laboratory and in the field.

Howrah-based Centre of Excellence in Fundamental Research in Homoeopathy will also undertake fundamental research studies in homoeopathy with an interdisciplinary approach.

“This institute has undertaken several clinical research studies such as autism, psoriasis, vitiligo, breast cancer, hypertension, migraine etc. along with proving of new drugs in homoeopathy with their clinical validations,” said Naik.

About 400 patients are being treated daily through the out patient department (OPD) services and AYUSH outreach services are being provided also in villages.

“Government of India is doing everything possible to promote research in various departments of homoeopathy— clinical research, drug standardization and basic research, and encourages new researchers to make India the leader in research arena of homoeopathy,” said Naik.