High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur

Press Release

          Shri Anil Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India led a high-level five-member delegation from India during the period 27-29 December, 2016 for participation in the 4^th Bilateral Technical Meeting on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional System of Medicine on invitation from Ministry of Health, Government of Malaysia.  H.E. Datuk Dr. Jeyaindran Tan Sri Sinnadurai, Deputy Director General of Health, Government of Malaysia led the Malaysian delegation during the meeting, which was held in Kuala Lumpur on 27 December, 2016.

2. At the meeting, both leaders lauded the progress in cooperation between Malaysia and India in the field of traditional medicine, especially Ayurveda and Siddha. H.E. Datuk Dr. Jeyaindran Tan Sri Sinnadurai mentioned that the cooperation in traditional medicine has gone from strength to strength and thanked India for its assistance.  Shri Anil Ganeriwala termed our cooperation with Malaysia as a “model” for others and promised all assistance.  The two sides recalled the agreement between the two Prime Ministers in November 2015 during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3. The highlights of the 4th bilateral technical meeting are as follows:

• Ministry of Health launched ‘Traditional and Complimentary Medicine Practice Guideline on Varmam Therapy’ in presence of Shri Anil Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, H.E. Shri T.S. Tirumurti, High Commissioner of India, H.E. Datuk Dr. Jeyaindran Tan Sri Sinnadurai, Deputy Director General of Health, Government of Malaysia, Prof. Dr. R.S. Ramaswamy, Director General of Central Council for Research in Siddha, Chennai and other distinguished guests.

• Ministry of Health informed that a pilot study on Vermam Therapy as complimentary treatment for orthopaedic and rehabilitative patients would be introduced in 2017 in Sungai Buloh Government Hospital. The Government of India agreed to send a qualified Siddha doctor on deputation to Malaysia to head this division early 2017.

• On request from Government of Malaysia, Government of India has agreed to continue with the deputation of one Ayurvedic Practitioner and two Therapists at the Port Dickson Government Hospital and Cheras Rehabilitation Centre. There has been a surge in demand for Indian traditional medicine in Malaysia in recent years. 

• The Government of Malaysia noted with satisfaction that out of 10 applications received for the Ayush Scholarship Scheme 2016-17, 8 applicants have been offered admission in various medical colleges in India in traditional medicine, including Unani, Ayurveda and Homeopathy.

• The Indian delegation also got an opportunity to visit Traditional and Complimentary Medicine divisions of the government hospitals at Sungai Buloh, Port Dickson and Rehabilitation Centre, Cheras.

• The 5^th bilateral meeting on traditional and complimentary medicine is expected to be held in 2017 in New Delhi, India.

 December 29, 2016