Geneva: India has signed a historic Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) with World Health Organization (WHO) for cooperation on promoting the quality, safety and effectiveness of service provision in traditional and complementary medicine.
The agreement was signed yesterday between Ajit M Sharan,Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH and Assistant Director General, Health Systems and Innovations, WHO, Dr. Marie Kieny, in Geneva.According to an official release, the PCA aims at supporting WHO in the development and implementation of the ‘WHO Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy.It will also contribute to the global promotion of traditional Indian Systems of Medicine.
The PCA for the period 2016-2020 will deliver for the first time WHO benchmark document for training in Yoga, and WHO benchmarks for practice in Ayurveda, Unani and Panchakarma. These will contribute significantly to the strengthening of national capacities in ensuring the quality, safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine including in establishing regulatory frameworks for traditional medicine.
Speaking on the occasion, the AYUSH Minister Shripad Yesso Naik recalled the long history and rich heritage of traditional medicine in India and its growing relevance in providing holistic and comprehensive health care. He said, India has accorded high priority to the promotion of traditional medicine both in India and abroad.
