Kochi: People seeking authentic Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala have some good news: the government is setting up a mechanism for enforcing standards for Ayurvedic health services provided in the State.
“The government is formulating standards for all the players in the sector,” Dr M Beena, secretary in charge of AYUSH department, told Deccan Chronicle on Monday.
“We have already prepared the standards for independent dispensaries and are working on the same for hospitals.”
The standards will come into effect once the governing body of the National AYUSH Mission in the state, headed by the chief secretary, approved it.
“We expect the governing council to meet in May and clear it. We shall start implementing it with no delay.” She said the department will form an inspection wing for the purpose.
The standardisation process will help patients as well as the Ayurveda sector, Dr Beena said. It will help check proliferation of spurious products and institutions in the state.
“There is a huge unmet demand for Ayurveda, both in therapeutic and wellness segments,” she said. The state has enough human resource, trained people and the physical infrastructure. All it needs to be done is to build on the brand, she said.
Dr Beena, who is also the managing director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, said the Kerala Ayurevda Mart (KAM) KSIDC is organising later this year will seek to leverage the advantages Kerala has in Ayurveda.
“Till now, individual institutions are promoting their brands. There has been no move to promote the Kerala brand of Ayurveda. KAM will attempt to do it.” KSIDC has already held two meetings, with the stakeholders.
