Lok Sabha Question No. 4140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: First B2B Global Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24/03/2023

## FIRST B2B GLOBAL CONFERENCE & EXPO ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINES

## 4140. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the MINISTER OF AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently inaugurated the first B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicines under Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at Guwahati in a bid to promote traditional medicines at the global level;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  total  number  of  delegates  from  various  SCO countries who participated in the said conference;
- (c) whether the country is emerging as a hub of traditional medicines in the world, if so, the details of business likely to be done in the field of traditional medicines during the current fiscal year and the ensuing three years;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to promote traditional systems of medicine to provide healthcare to countrymen as well as towards achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the said Expo is likely to open up more trade opportunities in traditional medicines and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)  &  (b)  Yes.  The  Ministry  of  Ayush  organized  the  B2B  Conference  under  the  Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Traditional Medicine from 02nd to 03rd March, 2023 in Guwahati (Assam). The Conference was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Ayush Shri  Sarbananda  Sonowal.    The  event  witnessed  active  participation  of  the  H.E.  Dr.  Thet Khaing Win, Hon'ble Union Minister of Health,  Myanmar,  Dr.  Munjapara  Mahendrabhai, Hon'ble Minister of State for Ayush   and H.E. Safiyya Mohamed Saeed, Deputy Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Maldives.

This Conference was attended by a total of 214 participants, out of which 83 were international delegates  (including  the  Health  Minister  of  Myanmar  and  the  Deputy  Health  Minister  of

Maldives) from 16 SCO Countries and 131 were Indian delegates. A total of 30 presentations have been made during the said event of which 19 were from SCO Countries i.e. Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Mongolia, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives and 11 presentations were also delivered by the Indian side i.e. 06 by the Ministry of Ayush's officials and 05 by the Indian Industry representatives. A total of 11 sessions were held  during  the  said  conference.  Along  with  the  B2B  conference,  a  B2B  Expo  was  also organized in Guwahati w.e.f. 02 nd to 5 th March, 2023.

(c) Yes. The country is emerging as a hub of traditional medicines in the world. The value of export of Ayush & Herbal products for the current FY i.e. 2022-23 (upto January, 2023) is USD 518.44 Million and keeping in view that the growth rate of export of Ayush and Herbal Products to various foreign countries during the period FY 2017-18 To FY 2021-22 has been 34.20  percent,  the  same  growth  momentum  is  expected  to    continue  in  the  years  to  come (source: DGCIS)

(d)  Following are the initiatives/achievements undertaken by the Ministry of Ayush towards the promotion of traditional systems of medicine to provide healthcare to countrymen as well as achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage:

-  National Institutes and Research Councils: A Network of 13 National Institutes, 05 Research Councils and 88 regional units of Research Councils has been established by the Ministry of Ayush for providing healthcare facilities to the countrymen as well as for the global recognition of the Ayush system of Medicine:
-  National Ayush Mission (NAM) :  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  implementing  the  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments &  supporting  their  efforts  for  the  development  and  promotion  of  Ayush  system  by providing financial assistance under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines  to  provide  health  care  facilities  through  Ayush  system  of  medicines for achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage.
-  Integration  of  AYUSH  services  in  Ayushman  Bharat :  Ayush  is  managing  9889 HWCs  to  offer  AYUSH  health  services  and  wellness  interventions  as  part  of Comprehensive Primary Healthcare and the same have been provided with financial assistance.
-  Ayush initiatives  with  other  Ministries: The  Ministry  of  Ayush  has  taken  crucial policy  measures  to  promote  the  traditional  system  of  medicines  in  the  country  i.e. constitution of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, MoUs with the Ministry  of  Defence  for  establishing  Ayurveda  OPDs  at  AFMS  Hospitals  and Cantonment Board Hospitals under which total 49 Ayurveda centers have been started under  MoD;  37  Cantonment  Board  Hospitals/Dispensaries  under  DGDE  in  various cantonments and 12 Service hospitals under the Armed Forces Medical Services, with Ministry of Railways for introduction of Ayush in Railway Hospitals, with Department of Science & Technology, Tripartite MoU between Ministry of Ayush, CSIR.
-  Integration of Ayush in AIIMS: As per the decision taken by the Government in the year  2014-2015  Ayush  services  are  being  integrated  into  the  19  new  AIIMS,  being established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
-  WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine : Signed an agreement with WHO to establish WHO-GCTM in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the ground-breaking Ceremony of which was held on 19.04.2022 in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This Centre aims to provide support to implement WHO's traditional medicine strategy (2014-23) and to support nations in developing policies & action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine as part of their journey to universal health coverage.
-  Insurance Coverage for AYUSH Health Care services: Under IRDAI regulations, about  27  insurance  companies  have  been  offering  more  than  140  policy  products covering one or more systems of AYUSH treatments since 2016.
-  Tele-consultation : The Ministry of Ayush has operationalized a dedicated community support helpline i.e. toll-free number 14443, to provide Ayush-based approaches and solutions for the challenges raised by Covid-19.

(e) During the B2B Expo which was organized in Guwahati w.e.f. 02 nd to 5 th March, 2023, 56 Indian  exhibitors  including  industries,  educational  institutes  and  Ayush  services  providers exhibited their products, institutions & infrastructure and 60 buyers from 11 countries showed a keen interest in the same. During the conference and the Expo more than 125 one-to-one meetings  were  held  between  buyers  &  sellers.  These  B2B  meeting  participants  were  from Tajikistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India.

10 LOIs were received from across the industry. The trade interest was received from 13 SCO countries in the fields of Ayurveda Education, Traditional Medicine Products and developing Infrastructure for providing Ayurveda and Yoga for Medical value Travel.

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