Thiruvananthapuram: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday said India should make use of its rich biodiversity and wide variety of medicinal plants to tap the global market for herbal medicines, on the lines of China and Japan.
“Japan and China have successfully marketed their traditional medicinal products abroad and they are well accepted in the European market. But compared to these countries, India is not at all seen anywhere in the global market,” he said.
Kalam suggested that the curriculum of government Ayurveda colleges be research oriented as teaching would not be perfect without research.
State Health Minister VS Sivakumar, who presided, said the Kerala government was considering a proposal to set up an Ayurveda university to promote studies and research.
He also said government was busy framing an action plan to use Ayurveda for fighting lifestyle diseases.
Around 70 students graduated at the function organised at the college campus in the heart of the city.
