India and Germany have agreed to enter formal cooperation in the area of alternative medicine.
At the end of May, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his Cabinet, approved a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between the two countries that will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional and alternative medicine.
India says that initiation of collaborative research, training and scientific capacity building in the field of alternative medicine under the JDI between the two countries will contribute to the enhanced employment opportunities in the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) sector.
India’s Ministry of AYUSH has launched several initiatives for promotion of Ayurveda in Germany with the recommendation and cooperation of the Indian Embassy in Berlin. One of the major initiatives is the collaborative research Project between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Charite University, Berlin on osteoarthritis of the knee. The results of the trial are encouraging and the clinical trial demonstrates significant improvement in patients. The study has been completed successfully and is under publication.
Last year, a ministerial delegation from India visited Germany to participate in the 2nd European World Ayurveda Congress (EWAC) and have interactions with the authorities in Germany. During the visit a bilateral meeting was held with German’s Secretary of State, Ingrid Fischbach.
It is hoped that the JDI will boost India-Germany ties and enhance cooperation between the two countries.