Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik has said that policies and strategies adapted by the governments have to be multi-dimensional and broad-based, to appropriately accommodate traditional medicine in the development of health infrastructure and services, for which India has set a unique example. Representing India at the BRICS Health Ministers Meet, he said in the future, there should be a focused brainstorming on this concept and workable proposition for the BRICS countries, for adoption should be evolved. ''Resources of medicinal plants and huge repository of traditional medicine knowledge in BRICS countries need to be harnessed for augmenting our efforts to address emerging health challenges, particularly to strengthen prime healthcare and prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. ''Enhanced co-operation is also required among the BRICS countries for further development of traditional medicine to improve the health indices and quality of life of the population.'' To have effective control over the veracity of non-communicable disease, vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, antimicrobial resistance and increasing geriatric population and associated health problems was a real challenge, he said, adding that harmonised integrated approaches and strategies were needed to make the best use of traditional medicine practices for the prevention of healthcare. ''All this needs sustainable system of exchange of informing expertise and experts of traditional medicine among BRICS countries and build up capacities and institutional mechanisms to tap the holistic healthcare potential of the particular traditional or complementary medical system,'' he said. Stating that curbing disease risk factors by promoting culture friendship, health practices and lifestyle interventions was the fundamental strength of traditional medicine, the Minister called for joining hands together to provide traditional medicine services to the people and achieve the goal of universal health coverage with the help of traditional health interventions and practitioners. The BRICS Summit 2017 will be held in coming September at Xiamen, East China, Fujian Province, and the Theme is Stronger Partnership for Brighter Future. UNI AKM RJ SB 1155 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-964886.Xml