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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of AYUSH have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to accelerate health research in Integrated Medicine.

The MoU would see AYUSH Departments in all All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to become independent departments of Integrated Medicine.

Integrative Health Research is a transdisciplinary, holistic approach to find out the benefits of co-administering the  modern systems of medicine and what are known as  traditional, complementary or alternative systems of medicine practised by individuals and communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya explained that the collaboration would promote high impact integrative research to generate evidence in priority areas of national importance in healthcare utilising modern scientific methods.

“Joint efforts will be in place to conduct high-quality clinical trials on identified areas/disease conditions of national importance with promising integrative therapies to generate evidence for wider acceptance,” said the Minister.

He said this would also help Ayurveda to further build its  independent identity as a medical system based on scientific evidence.

The MoA will explore areas of convergence and synergy between the two organisations for integrative health research and strengthening research capacity. It will also look into efforts to conduct high-quality clinical trials jointly on identified areas/disease conditions of national importance with promising therapies of the AYUSH system to generate evidence for wider acceptance.

 “A joint working group shall be created between the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR which will meet quarterly to explore further areas of collaboration and work on deliverables. Both institutions shall formulate and implement joint research projects and programmes and allow joint supervision of the said activities as well as design and conduct conferences, workshops, seminars jointly with active participation of researchers interested in the field of Integrative Healthcare,’’ said the Health Ministry.

According to the Ministry, in addition, as part of the collaboration, scholars/trainees/researchers/faculties of the organisations will have access to advanced instrumentation systems, and other infrastructural facilities as per the prevailing rules and regulation of the organisations for the duration of the visit/joint research project/programme. 

“Both shall work towards developing/renewing mutual cooperation for facilitating scientific validation and providing evidence for AYUSH systems by other countries,’’ said the Ministry in a press note.

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