Goa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the satellite centre of All India Institute of Ayurveda at the World Ayurveda Congress on Sunday, thereby unveiling opportunities for Ayurvedic education and the establishment of Goa as a medical tourism hub.

Speaking on the occasion at the World Ayurveda Congress in Goa Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, that the All India Institute of Ayurveda can play an important part in promoting medical tourism in India.

The Prime minister in his speech said, “The spirit of Sarve Bhawantu Sukhina, Sarve Santu Niramaya meaning wellness for all can help India get ahead in the field of providing medical facilities, especially in the Ayush sector, which is full of opportunities for everyone. Goa being a hub of international tourism has the potential to become a medical tourism hub with the help of the All-India Institute of Ayurveda satellite centre in Goa.”

“For the world, Ayurveda is a strong medium to communicating India’s deep roots in the field of traditional medicine, wellness and holistic treatment therapies. We now need to work on the data-backed evidence to prove the effectiveness of Ayurveda to the world”, said the Prime Minister.

“India will be the centre of traditional medicine in the global market. We have witnessed a huge jump in the export of traditional medicine in the last eight years. The setting up of All India Institute of Ayurveda in Goa, will attract a lot of tourists for health and well-being, which will add to medical value travel, said Sarbananda Sonowal, Union minister of Ayush, Government of India.

Director, AIIA talks on data-backed research, the focus on illness to wellness

During the inaugural function at Indian Institute of Ayurveda, situated in Dhargal village of Pernem Taluka in Goa, the Director of All India Institute of Ayurveda, Professor (Dr) Tanuja Manoj Nesari in her speech enumerated the achievements of the institute in Delhi and expressed her confidence that the satellite institute in Goa would play a catalytic role in boosting medical tourism in the state,

“The institute has treated more than 15 lakh patients in the last five years. The institute has produced more than 1500 publications in collaboration with various institutions in the country and across the world to give data-backed research in the field of Ayurveda,” said Professor (Dr) Tanuja Manoj Nesari, during her address adding that Sky is the limit and Ocean is an opportunity for Ayush students.

“We are looking forward to introducing the New-age Ayurveda among the youngsters and would like to assure the Prime Minister that the future of Ayurveda is very much secure in the hands of young scholars. AIIA is not only focussing on practice-based evidence, but also evidence-based practice and strives to take the patients from a stage of illness to wellness and finally to happiness,” she added.

The director also lauded the unique initiative of publishing comic books that help take Ayurvedic principles to the children.

The inaugural function was attended by Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Tourism, Shri Shripad Yasho Naik, MoS Ayush Ministry, Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai, Chief Minister (Goa) Shri Pramod Sawant and other dignitaries.