To popularise Indian system of medicine abroad, the Centre will host a four-day World Ayurveda Congress in the Capital from November 6 to 9. To be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the conference will be attended by delegates and Health Ministers from 24 countries.

To fulfil “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aspiration to accord Ayurveda a place of prominence in society,” the Centre will support institutions to carry out research, create a database and offer treatment based on established practices in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Unanni systems, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on Monday.

“An All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) is coming up at Jasola in Delhi. It will admit the first batch of post-graduate students during the academic year 2015-16. A 200-bed hospital will also become functional in about six months,” he said.

Dr. Vardhan, an ENT specialist, said despite his training in modern medicine he has been forthright in his admiration for Ayurveda.

“One of my first decisions was to approve the course content. I would like to see this develop into an institution comparable to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences — an AIIMS for Ayurveda,” he said.