SHILLONG: With an objective to create awareness on the value of medicinal plants and also to promote their cultivation and preservation, an Exhibition of Medicinal Plants and their Values was inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister A L Hek at U SoSo Tham Auditorium on Wednesday.
The inaugural programme was also attended by Dr. Pradeep Jeathi of Adora Kerala Ayurvedic as guest of honour, secretary of Health and Family Welfare cum Mission Director and Director of AYUSH, Pravin Bakshi, officers from the Health Department, traditional healers from East Khasi Hills and students.
Speaking at the programme, Hek informed that in the year 2005-2006, the North Easter Council had conducted a survey on medicinal plants in East and West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District wherein 57 medicinal plant species commonly used by indigenous health practitioners were documented.
“However, the lack of proper documentation of the traditional system of healing and the lack of license to market traditional medicines has not augured well for traditional healers,” the minister said.Therefore, he stressed on the need for a certification course for all traditional medicine practitioners to be conducted by the State Health Department, which will go a long way in organising the sector. Hek also reiterated the need to strengthen the AYUSH Directorate and also to have an AYUSH Policy.
Dr. Pradeep Jeathi said that 70 per cent of the world depends on traditional medicinal system. In 2016 the global herbal market was valued at 71.19 billion dollars and was projected to grow at 10 per cent in the next ten years, he informed.
“While China and USA occupy 80 per cent of the market share, India occupies only 1 per cent share,” he said while stressing on the need for the State Governments to encourage sustainable large scale plantation of plants with medicinal value.
P Bakshi reiterated on the need for accreditation of the traditional healers so that they are given due recognition and are able to practice at par with allopathic doctors.
