Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed before an audience of Ayurveda experts and students here on Tuesday the benefits of preventive and curative healthcare from Indian systems of medicine, and also an economic spin-off in the form of national and international market for skills and products.

At the same time, he also stressed the need to address concerns over quality standards at a time when Ayurveda and the others systems of alternative or complementary medicine were gaining global acceptance.

Addressing Vision Conclave of the Global Ayurveda Festival in the city, got up by various organisations in this field of medicine, the Prime Minister said the country needed healthcare systems that could lower the burden of non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases. Ayurveda and yoga were among the systems that could bring about physical, mental and social well-being.

The Central Government was focussed on tapping the potential of holistic medicine as not only an efficacious system of treatment, but also as a viable economic activity. “Young entrepreneurs will get a lot of opportunity as start-ups in this sector,” he said. “One must also ponder over the challenges. Traditional medicine is what our rural sections get to have in healthcare. In this context, affordability, quality and rational use must get prime focus,” he said.

From just a department, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) was made into a ministry as soon as his government took charge – a proof of the thrust it gave to promoting indigenous systems of medicine.

“There are large players in the area of alternative systems of medicine. But, there should be stress on good capacity building, competence and focus on efficacy.”

Pointing out that Kerala was always the hub of Ayurveda, Chief Minister Oomen Chandy requested Mr. Modi that the international standards Ayurveda research institute planned by the Central Government be established in Kerala.

“Ayurveda sector is growing at 15 per cent to 20 per cent annually, and the State Government is focussed on providing quality and affordable healthcare, including indigenous systems of medicines even in municipalities and grama panchayats,” he said.

Union Minister of State for AYUSH Sripad Yasso Naik said the government was into tie-ups with Asian and European countries to promote Indian systems of medicine globally, and planned to bring Ayurveda into the National Health Mission.

Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam and Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar were among those who were present.