The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) celebrated its fourth foundation day with a two-day national conference, ‘PRANA’ (Protecting Rights and Novelties in ASUS), in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell. The conference, focused on bringing innovations from mind to market for ISM (Indian System of Medicines) professionals, highlighted numerous innovations with potential for patents, commercialization, and technology transfer, fostering opportunities for startups.
Padmashree Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush and the Chief Guest at the inauguration, emphasized the importance of promoting Indian systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa, through educational institutions nationwide. He noted the immense scope for innovations within these systems.
Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairperson of NCISM and Board of Governors CCIM, Ministry of Ayush, stressed the need to harness knowledge to create assets and opportunities for institutions. He congratulated the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) for establishing approximately 15,000 Institute Innovation Councils (IIC), which he believes will significantly impact intellectual property rights and innovation.
The NCISM, a statutory body constituted under the NCISM Act, 2020, ensures the availability of high-quality medical professionals in ISM, the adoption of the latest medical research, and the periodic assessment of ISM medical institutions. Since its inception, NCISM has implemented reforms in medical education, research, practice, and capacity-building across Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa, elevating these systems to global standards.
An online survey conducted by NCISM among ISM professionals and students revealed significant innovation activity, with 115 patents granted, 112 patents applied for, and 183 innovations developed but not yet patented.
The event saw participation from prominent figures, including Dr Sitaraman, Chairman of AICTE; Dr Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE; Dr B. Srinivasa Prasad, President of the Board of Ayurveda, NCISM, Ministry of Ayush; Dr K. Jagannathan, President of the Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa (BUSS); Dr. Raghuram Bhatt, President of NCISM’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine (MARBISM); Vaidya Rakesh Sharma, President of the Board of Ethics and Registration for Indian System of Medicine; and Prof. Shashikala G. Wanjari, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), along with other participants from across the country.
