Experts discuss Indian medicine system as relief for pandemic

The Ambassador of India, Kumar Tuhin, said Ayurveda focused on holistic health and Ayurveda medicines such as Fifatrol, Ayush Kwath etc., which have shown tremendous immunity-boosting benefits. He highlighted that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would dedicate to the nation two National Institutes of significance, namely the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, and the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur.

A keynote speech was given by Professor Mahesh Vyas, Dean of All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, nominated by the Ministry of Ayush, in which he spoke of the success of the Ayusuaraksha project for the 80,000 personnel of Delhi police and other measures of the Ministry of Ayush including the National Clinical Management Protocol issued in the wake of COVID-19.

Dr. Iván Szalkai, Vice-President of the Hungarian Integrative Medicine Society, gave a brief overview of Ayurveda in Hungary and mentioned a joint research paper brought out by the Hungarian doctors and researchers on the significance of Ayurveda on pre-hospitalisation treatment for COVID-19 patients, which was published in a scientific journal in India.

Two of his students gave a presentation on the efficacy of Ayurveda in the Western world. Professor M.S. Baghel and Dr. Asmita Wele, former chairpersons (Ayurveda) of the University of Debrecen, spoke on Ayurveda’s treatment benefits for COVID-19 asymptomatic patients and certain Indian herbs and diets relevant for the Hungarian palate.

A presentation from Brahma Ayurveda, Budapest, and pre-recorded presentations from Ayush Info Cell of the Embassy and from other Ayush practitioners of homeopathy and Siddha and Yoga were also shown.

An overview of expanding Ayurveda in the global market, which is expected to touch USD 14.9 billion by 2020 growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16.14 percent was highlighted during the webinar.  The event ended with questions and answers and an acknowledgment of the fact that Ayurveda finds great resonance in Hungary as it has been successfully able to complement the modern system of medicine offering a solution in combating the pandemic.

Apart from the webinar, the embassy also ran a quiz on Ayurveda in consultation with the Ministry of Ayush, posted creatives on Ayurveda on its social media handles, organised a live webcast of Ayurveda Day celebrations chaired by Prime Minister Modi on November 13, and circulated audio-visual material on Ayurveda through its social media.

The National Clinical Management Protocol issued by the Ministry of Ayush was widely circulated in both Hungarian and Bosnian languages. India and Hungary have a sound framework for cooperation in the traditional system of medicine including a cooperation agreement signed in 2013.

The Ayurveda Day 2020 celebrations also provided a different perspective drawing from India’s ancient knowledge to the challenging times in which humankind finds itself.