Dubai: Indian authorities will push for wider acceptance of the traditional Indian systems of medicine in the UAE during an upcoming international medical conference here.

A bevy of international experts will converge on Dubai in November to propagate the effectiveness of Ayurveda, Homeopathy and other alternative medicine streams in treating lifestyle disorders.

About 1,200 delegates from over 20 countries are expected to attend the first ‘International AYUSH Conference and Exhibition-2017’ to be held at the Dubai World Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 9 to 11, organisers said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The conference is organised by the Science India Forum in the UAE, a voluntary organisation for propagation of science among the masses with the support of the Indian Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Sidha and Homeopathy).

With the theme ‘Lifestyle diseases — prevention and management through AYUSH’, the conference will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi; and Consulate General of India, Dubai.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri said the conference will popularise AYUSH. He said it will also provide an integrated and holistic perspective on lifestyle diseases and how to manage those ailments using AYUSH therapies that are now increasingly being researched and popularised.

“We need to get the word out … beyond the Indian community ….to those who are open-minded, who are concerned about lifestyle diseases and who are willing to recognise that allopathy may not have all answers,” he said.

Consul-General of India in Dubai Vipul said one of the objectives of the conference is to ensure better education and awareness about these systems among people and government authorities.

Insurance issues

Dr V.L. Shyam, the general secretary of the organising committee, said the conference will also pave way for convincing policymakers to allow direct billing for medical insurance coverage for these treatment methods. “Now most of the insurance companies cover traditional and alternative medicines on a reimbursement level based on the slabs of the policies. We will be discussing about direct billing.”

He said there are about 400 registered practitioners of AYUSH, except Sidha medicine, in the UAE after the Ministry of Health and Prevention approved those medical systems under Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Department in 2003.

To address the dearth of alternative medical products for these practitioners, India’s AYUSH ministry will encourage popular manufacturers and distributors from India to attend the conference with a fund of Rs200,000 each, organisers said.

“We have invited the policymakers and regulators of different countries … to discuss a strategic road map for the propagation of AYUSH system in the Middle East and across the globe,” said Dr Shyam.

Free public sessions

There will be free evening sessions for creating public awareness on AYUSH systems. Public will also have free access to an exhibition showcasing AYUSH pharma, FMCG products, service providers, educational institutions, research organisations, organic products, AYUSH equipment etc.

Efforts are also on to conduct a free medical camp for the public at the conference venue.

Vipul said the consulate will publicise the facility of free ayurvedic and homeopathic consultation service available at the mission during the conference.

Ayurvedic doctors are available on all Sundays and Wednesdays between 10am and 12 noon and a homeopathic doctor will be available every Tuesday from 9am to 11am at the consulate.