KOCHI: On National Ayurveda Day, Minister of Health and Social Justice K K Shailaja said the state would hold an international seminar and ayurveda expo showcasing the state's ayurveda sector before the world. The seminar and expo will be held here in February 2018, she said, inaugurating a function celebrating the significance of ayurveda, organised by Ministry of Ayush, along with other departments.
The proposed four-day seminar is organised with an aim to present Kerala's achievements in tourism, healthcare, and ayurveda drugs production, she said here on Tuesday. The state government is moving ahead with the plan of setting up International Research Institute of Ayurveda for conducting research in ayurveda with the help of discoveries in modern science, technology and genetics.
“The government is planning to upgrade all district ayurveda hospitals to super specialty hospitals in a time-bound manner with the help of corporate firms. The government will also take steps for the expansion of Ayush department and the growth of Oushadhi,” she said. With the opening of ayurveda dispensaries in all panchayats, the state has become a complete ayurveda village.
Hibi Eden MLA, who presided over the function, appreciated the efforts of the minister in developing the health sector. He said a request has been made to the minister on increasing the number of beds in the Government Hospital. Principal Secretary of Ayush Asha Sanil, National Ayush Mission managing director (Kerala), K V Uthaman and other dignitaries attended.