New Delhi: The National Commission for Indian Medical Systems organized a two-day National Conference, ‘PRANA’ (Protecting Rights and Novelties in ASUS: Mind to Market for Indian System of Medicines [ISM] Professionals) in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell to mark its fourth foundation.

The two-day seminar of the national conference involved a significant number of innovations that have the potential to be patented, commercialized, or suitable for technology transfer of those patented items. These innovations could become suitable for startups. The conference delved into various facets of handholding innovators in ISM.

Padmashree Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, who was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony organized yesterday, asserted that this is the right time to hold such a discussion on this platform as it promotes Indian systems of medicine—Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa—through educational institutions across the country. He further emphasized that the scope for innovations in ISM is immense.

Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairperson, NCISM and Board of Governors CCIM, Ministry of Ayush, delved into the need to utilize the knowledge so that it becomes an asset and an opportunity for the institutions. He congratulated the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) for creating about 15,000 Institute Innovation Councils (IIC). He further mentioned that the initiatives would help bring about a significant change in perception across intellectual property rights as well as innovation.

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine is the statutory body constituted under the NCISM Act, 2020, vide Gazette notification extraordinary part II section 1 dated 21.09.2020, and which came into force on 11th June 2021.

The Commission ensures the availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals of the Indian System of Medicine (ISM); the adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals of the Indian System of Medicine; and periodic assessment of ISM medical institutions. Since its inception, NCISM has taken initiatives and reforms in several dimensions such as medical education, medical research, medical practice, and capacity-building among others, in the fields of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa medical systems, which have resulted in the transformation of these systems towards global standards.

NCISM conducted an online survey among ISM professionals and students to estimate the number, types, and status of innovations in Ayush. The survey relates to patents granted (115); patents applied for (112); and innovations developed but not applied for patent (183).

Dr. Sitaraman, Chairman, AICTE, Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE, Dr. B. Srinivasa Prasad, President of the Board of Ayurveda, NCISM, Ministry of Ayush, Dr. K. Jagannathan, President, Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa (BUSS), Dr. Raghuram Bhatt, President of NCISM (Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine - MARBISM), Vaidya Rakesh Sharma, President, Board of the Ethics and Registration for Indian System of Medicine, Prof. Shashikala G. Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), among other participants from across the country, took part in the program. /BI