India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a visionary step towards advancing public health and research during the BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand.
He announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence focused on promoting research and dissemination of Traditional Medicine across BIMSTEC countries.
Expressing the significance of the initiative, PM Modi highlighted, “Public health is a vital pillar of our collective social development. India will extend support for training and capacity building in cancer care across BIMSTEC nations.”
This initiative marks yet another step in bolstering India’s ties with BIMSTEC nations, especially Thailand, which shares a long-standing tradition of collaboration in the field of Traditional Medicine. The announcement follows the signing of an MoU last year between the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, and Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, to promote academic collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine.
With the introduction of the Ayush Scholarship Scheme under this program, over 175 students from BIMSTEC nations have benefited from academic opportunities in Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and other traditional practices in the past five years.
The newly announced Centre of Excellence aims to strengthen cooperation, innovate cancer care training, and create a platform for research and development, paving the way for deeper cultural and healthcare ties in the region.