Major obstacles towards ayurvedic medicinal exports
View(s):By Quintus Perera
Major obstacles are facing Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicinal products in the export market, it was revealed at the recent launch of ‘Ayurveda Expo 2013’ – the premier Ayurvedic exhibition in Sri Lanka.
The Ayurveda Expo 2013 will be held on July 12-14 at the BMICH and is sponsored by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.
At the launch Ayur Dr Danister L Perera, Consultant, making a special presentation said that in Ayurvedic tourism in Sri Lanka Ayurvedic medicinal practice is only done on the surface. There is no deep study on the treatment aspect and how it could be focused in the market.
Spotlighting one of the obstacles, Dr Perera pointed out that a globally influential medical journal – the Journal of American Medical Association in 2004 and 2008 – has indicated that Ayurvedic medicine contains such substances like mercury, lead and arsenic and this statement has created a rumpus around the world. He said that this could be the worst attack on Ayurvedic medical treatment in recent history.
He said that India had fought alone against this onslaught. While Sri Lanka too was benefited by this Indian fight-back, Sri Lanka could not make any contribution in this struggle. By now, he said that they were unable to export these Ayurvedic products to the countries of the European Union.
There are also national level challenges, he said, as there were some doubts cast on whether Ayurvedic treatments have any connection to the spread of kidney disorders.
However, he said that the health aspects of herbs are now becoming popular through research carried out on Ayurveda treatment and the results of these research are gradually being published. Guggul, one of the Ayurvedic treatments, is now being accepted as a treatment for cholesterol control.
He said that in Sri Lanka there should be a concerted, joint effort by the stakeholders of Ayurveda in this country and they should team up to launch proper research and with quality standards maintained should make a big attempt to penetrate into the international market, rather than just rubbing some medicine and be satisfied with that income.
He said that even the United Nations has recognized the importance of the herbal treatment and its forecast of the herbal supplement market would be US $ 80 billion in 2017 which is estimated to increase to $80 trillion by 2050. Efforts should be made to penetrate into this lucrative market.
He said that all attempts should be made to popularize the Exhibition so that through it they should try to establish a good market for Sri Lankan herbal products as well as for the Ayurvedic products.
The application of Ayurveda treatment for non-communicable diseases is very responsive and effective and the monies that are spent on these diseases could be reduced drastically if Ayurvedic medicine is used.
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