Ayurveda policy in the offing
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KATHMANDU, SEP 23 -
With a view to conserving and promoting the medicinal herbs through patent rights, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has drafted a new Ayurvedic Policy.
MoPH had taken the step following criticisms from the stakeholders that the authority was not serious over conserving Ayurvedic plants and securing their patent rights, according to officials.
“Once the policy comes into effective, we will be able to work towards protection, preservation, development and commercialisation of indigenous knowledge on herbal resources to protect their patent rights,” said Kabi Raj Khanal, deputy spokesperson at MoPH. “Being a member of the World Trade Organisation, it is mandatory for Nepal to protect, preserve and promote the medicinal plants and maintain their inventory.”
The policy would also help preserve the sustainable ground for Ayurvedic treatment and promote research for developing the traditional knowledge for economic, environmental and social prosperity.
Nepal ranks 25th in the world and 11th in Asia in terms of biodiversity. There are about 264 species of indigenous herbal plants and 3,500 other kinds of herbal plants of medicinal values in Nepal. An estimated 140 indigenous medicinal herbs have already been captured by foreign medical companies. They include Silajit, turmeric, Neem, Amala and Kalogeera, according to Department of Ayurveda under MoHP.
The national policy to protect herbs was introduced in 1995 and amended in 2001. The ministry is going to maintain a digital inventory of all the herbs at traditional knowledge digital library.
“Absence of a specific policy and regulation on indigenous medicines has led to illegal trade of these resources,” said Khanal.
Unlike the previous policy, the recent draft will work towards promoting the traditional treating system at university level education. The policy will also promote bio-prospecting research and use the findings for higher education of Ayurveda, said Khanal.
Posted on: 2010-09-23 09:12
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