The uniqueness about the Indian system of medicine is that it has survived the ravages of time and the onslaught of the modern medicinal system. It is learnt that there are over 600,000 registered Ayurveda practitioners, besides a very large number of Unani and Siddha practitioners. However, the system and its practitioners had suffered long years of neglect, especially during the British period.

lack of the necessary patronage from the government as well as the market (constituted by the educated middle class} had hampered modernisation of the ISM system and its products and services.

In spite of its vast span and embrace, there has been a steady erosion of credibility of ISM medicines and practices in a world of fast changing lifestyle. The focus of this sector is also found to be shifting leading to greater thrust on ISM products rather than medicines. Further, although there are four distinct wings of ISM, it is Ayurveda that dominates the total ISM market of about Rs 4000 crores and the rest are really insignificant .

In this context, the recent initiatives of the Government of India, namely setting up of a separate Department of the Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, is a welcome initiative. A broad institutional framework has been developed to regulate the activities in the field of ISM&H.

The institutional framework for development of this sector now consists of (i) Two statutory regulatory bodies (Central Council for Indian Medicine and Central Council for Homeopathy) responsible for laying educational standards and norms and registration of practitioners (ii) Apex Research bodies (iii) Apex educational institutes and (iv) Pharmaceutical Committees for different systems of ISM&H. Focus has also been given on ensuring global manufacturing practices (GMP) for ISM products. Under the auspices of this Department, detailed developmental activities have been initiated, covering all the aspects, namely (i) education and training, (ii) standardisation of drugs, (iii) enhanced availability of raw materials, (iv) research and development, (v) information, communication and larger involvement of ISM&H in national health care delivery system and (vi) patent protection.

There is also need for publicity campaign in favour of the ISM. Overall, the task is gigantic, if the ISM practice and medicines have to be brought into the limelight.

The technology in the case of the ISM is the knowledge of the human body as a cosmic element, its relationship with, and response to, the surroundings, knowledge of the nature and its elements and materials, knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs, plants, animals and minerals, knowledge of the preparation of the medicines etc. It is heartening to note that there is a vast and rapidly growing global market for such products, especially herbal products.

As a medicinal system, ISM is essentially a service. We have to distinguish the ISM service from the products. To export ISM technologies, one has to think of exporting the services of the ISM practitioners. For this purpose, there is a need to develop ISM as a deliverable package of service. One can also think of exporting knowledge component of ISM by some other means like establishing ISM educational and training centers, ISM hospitals etc. In the case of ISM products, it is possible to export patented technologies through licensing .