Start-ups can find opportunties in holistic healthcare: Modi

Kozhikode: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday that the government would maximize the utilization of Ayurveda and Yoga and other traditions of healing and help promotion of integrative medical facilities.

Inaugurating the Global Ayurveda Festival, the Prime Minister said that young entrepreneurs, who are planning a start-up, could find a lot of opportunities in holistic healthcare.

“Our efforts are to tap the real potential of Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people. “

Mr. Modi said that Kerala is the hub of traditional Ayurveda. It was heartening to note that foreign delegates in large numbers have come from various countries to participate in the Ayurveda festival.

“Unfortunately, the real potential of Ayurveda is untapped because of many reasons. Most importantly, because of inadequate scientific scrutiny and concerns regarding standards and quality.

“If these issues are addressed properly, I am sure Ayurveda can provide solutions to many health problems. India can be a leader in making affordable, holistic health care available to the world.”

Non-communicable diseases, lifestyle related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancers have become the greatest health challenges. WHO estimates that non-communicable diseases kill about 38 million people each year and almost three quarters of NCD deaths, that is 28 million, occur in low and middle-income countries. It is in managing these that Ayurveda offers solutions.

“We are committed to promote the use of traditional medicine in our Public Health System through regulation of research and appropriate integration of quality products, practices, and practitioners into the health system. “

Mr. Modi noted that it was important for us to address the issues of safety, efficacy, quality, access and rational use of our traditional medical knowledge of Ayurveda. “We should also move closely with the emerging trends in the areas of bio-medicine, health technology and information technology. “

He said that traditional medicine is affordable to many of the rural people. “It is locally available to the communities, time-tested for its safety and efficacy. Above all, it imbibes the culture and eco-system of the communities within which it grows.

“In many parts of developing countries, traditional medical practices are the only resources of healthcare within the physical and financial reach of the poor people. “

Earlier, the Prime Minister, who arrived at the Karippur airport, was received by Governor P. Sathasivam, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and others. Youth Congress workers staged a demonstration outside the airport against Mr. Modi over suicide of student of Hyderabad Central University Rohit Vemula and other issues.