Ministry of Ayush and RIS Sign MoU to Boost Academic Collaboration and Ayush Service Sector Overview

New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayush and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, inked a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a ceremony held today at New Delhi. The agreement was signed by Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush, and Director General Prof Sachin Chaturvedi represented RIS, an autonomous policy research institute under the Ministry of External Affairs.

This Knowledge Partnership through the MoU aims to strengthen academic cooperation and collaboration between the Ministry of Ayush and RIS, facilitating research, policy dialogue, publications, and capacity building in the field of Indian Traditional Medicine. Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha emphasized the continuation of the academic collaboration, including the Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM).

During the signing, Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha stated, “The Ministry of Ayush has a longstanding partnership with RIS, and FITM has played a crucial role in contributing policy papers and directions. This MoU signifies our commitment to continue this valuable work.”

Secretary Kotecha highlighted RIS’s earlier report, “Ayush Sector in India: Prospects and Challenges,” pointing out the impressive growth of the Ayush manufacturing sector over the last nine years. He expressed the Ministry’s expectation for a similar report on the Ayush Service Sector to be produced by RIS within a specific timeframe.

RIS DG Prof Sachin Chaturvedi shed light on the scope of the MoU, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive overview of market estimates, product standardization, and regulations in international trade. Prof Chaturvedi stated, “The Ayush Sector holds the potential to become a hub of Medical Tourism, contributing significantly to foreign exchange. RIS is actively working on a roadmap in this direction.”

Addressing the Ayush sector’s potential, Prof Sachin Chaturvedi discussed the active work on estimating Ayush Services Sector and highlighted the close link between the sector’s growth and the safeguarding of biodiversity. He stressed the need for innovative thinking regarding the Biodiversity Act of 2002, emphasizing not only the use of biodiversity but also its preservation for the future.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Ayush, including Joint Secretary Shri BK Singh, Joint Secretary Smt. Bhavna Saxena, Advisor Ayurveda Dr. Manoj Nesari, Advisor Unani Dr. MA Kasmi, and other senior officials. Representatives from RIS and FITM, including Dr. Namrata Pathak and Dr. Sarin NS, were also present during the ceremony.