Kochi: There is a need to declare ayurveda as a national treatment system, according to Kerala Health Minister P Sankaran.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the World Ayurveda Congress in the presence of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shatrughan Sinha, Sankaran said this will facilitate reimbursement for treatment to government employees and others.

Sankaran also sought all help for the ayurvedic park proposed by Union Minister O Rajagopal at an earlier function. Sankaran said many of the secrets of ayurveda have not come to the fore and stressed the need to popularise the age-old system.

The state will be able to get more employment opportunities in the process of widening the base of ayurveda. An affiliated university for ayurveda in Kerala will be highly desirable, he said.

The central government proposes to secure priority and green industry statuses for Indian System of Medicine (ISM) industries, including ayurveda, sidha and unani. Efforts will be made to secure fiscal incentives and tax concessions to the ISM industry within the overall taxation policy.

To make them, viable and competitive ISM drugs will be encouraged to adopt modern dosage forms. Classical formulation will be encouraged. A manufacturer will be required to have safety and efficacy studies of their patent and proprietary medicine before granting license, said Sinha.

K I Vasu, national president of Vignan Bharati, in his introductory remarks, said: ''The Swadeshi Science Movement of the organisation is aimed at promoting ayurveda as a universal medicine. Ayurveda can give a healing touch to the whole world. Though it is an intellectual science, which needs popularity, the economic aspects should be taken into consideration.''

The fact that delegates from the developing and developed countries are participating in the ayurveda congress is proof for the increasing interest in ayurveda among the world community. Assam has evinced interest in hosting the next congress, he said.

Malti Sinha, secretary, Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, said states have been asked to take action against objectionable advertisements on alternative medicine.

Those present for the function included Kerala Tourism Minister K V Thomas; SC/ST Welfare Minister M A Kuttappan; George Eden, MP; P K Warrier, chairman, World Ayurveda Congress; N K Mahadevan, chairman, Vagbhata Sarani; Justice K K Narendran, chairman of the reception committee; R S Ronghang, minister of health, Assam; Tangor Tapak, minister of health, Arunachal Pradesh; Romesh Sharma, minister of health, Punjab; Radheshyam, minister of health, Rajasthan; Mahesh Sharma, chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Corporation.