China hands over ayurvedic centre in Nepal

The government of China  handed over National Ayurvedic Training and Research Centre (NATRC), at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, to the government of Nepal. Chinese Ambassador Qio Guohong said the centre would play a positive role in promoting Ayurveda, conducting research on medicine made from natural herbs, training medical professionals and strengthening exchange and cooperation between China and Nepal in the health sector. The Chinese government has constructed a research centre, a training centre and a 25-bed hospital at the centre.
Dr Praveen Mishra, secretary at the health ministry, said the centre would help protect, preserve, develop and commercialise indigenous knowledge and herbal resources. Nepal ranks 25th in the world and 11th in Asia in terms of biodiversity. It has around 264 species of indigenous herbal plants and 3,500 non-indigenous ones. An estimated 140 indigenous medicinal herbs are being used by foreign medical companies.Dr Ram Chandra Adhikari, health inspector at the Department of Ayurveda, said the centre would produce and export herbal medicines by establishing coordination between traditional Chinese medicine and Nepali indigenous medicinal system. He added that the country would be able to register medicinal plants and protect and promote those herbs that cost billions.“The country is losing its herbal resources for want of a research centre,” said Dr Shyam Babu Yadav, coordinator of the centre. He said the centre would help preserve a sustainable ground for ayurvedic treatment, research and development of traditional knowledge for economic, environmental and social prosperity. The centre will also produce human resources in Ayurveda through education and training.