Kochi: The World Ayurveda Congress is working on a policy framework to promote ayurveda all over the world.

The framework will also outline the steps India and the other countries need to adopt for taking ayurveda to all parts of the world, says K I Vasu, the working chairman of the congress. ''The congress will also make plans to formulate a task force to study the requirements of other countries and to develop ayurveda packages accordingly.''

The congress will also make suggestions to the government to bring good manufacturing practices that should be implemented through quality control of ayurvedic drugs. ''Universities should be more open to give degrees on ayurveda to foreigners and there should be more such institutions in the country. At present only Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have such universities,'' says Vasu. He also stresses the need to have central and state ministers exclusively for ayurveda and ayurveda hospitals in every district.

''We are also planning to set up regional groups to conduct meetings on ayurveda and to organise the World Ayurveda Congress every alternative year,'' adds Vasu. ''Such a congress will also be held in every state and will later be spread to other countries.''

Delegates from 28 countries attended the congress. Representatives from the US, the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany were some of the participants. Sri Lanka had the highest number of delegates. Though Pakistan was also invited for the congress, as the country has a rich ayurveda tradition, no delegate attended the meet.