ICMR, Ayush Ministry ink MoU for research in Integrated Medicine

Indian Council of Medical Research and the AYUSH Ministry signed MoU for collaborative and cooperative momentum on health research in the field of Integrated Medicine. The MOU will combine traditional knowledge with modern research & boost Ayurveda to further build its identity on the basis of scientific evidence, said union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Health Ministry and the Ministry of AYUSH, today for collaboration and cooperation in health research in the field of Integrated Medicine. 

The MoA was signed by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH and Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary DHR & DG, ICMR in the presence of union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of AYUSH and Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State (HFW) and Dr V.K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Ayog.

Dr Mandaviya said, “Combining traditional knowledge with modern research & innovation, the MoA signed between the two institutions will boost Ayurveda to further build its identity on the basis of scientific evidence.” 

Lauding the agreement, the Health Minister further stated that “this partnership will have a significant contribution in the development and reach of Integrated Medicine.”

“This collaboration will promote high-impact integrative research to generate evidence in priority areas of national importance in healthcare utilizing 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,” he added.

The MoA envisages cooperation and collaboration between the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR for exploring the areas of convergence and synergy between the two organizations for integrative health research and strengthening research capacity. The MOA also envisages exploring possibilities with M/o Ayush and ICMR to work on public health research initiatives for addressing diseases of national importance. 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 is also part of the agreement signed today.

A joint working group shall be created between the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR which will meet quarterly for exploring further areas of collaboration and work on deliverables. Both institutions shall formulate and implement joint research projects and programs and allow joint supervision of the said activities as well as design and conduct conferences, workshops, and seminars jointly with the active participation of researchers interested in the field of Integrative Healthcare. 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 regulations of the organisations for the duration of the visit/joint research project/program. Both shall work towards developing/renewing mutual cooperation for facilitating scientific validation and providing evidence for AYUSH systems by other countries.

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