Vice President Emphasizes Child Health in Indias Healthcare Priorities
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan highlights the importance of child health and traditional medicine at the International Conference on Pediatrics.
New Delhi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : India’s Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, underscored the importance of prioritizing child health within the nation’s healthcare framework during his address at the International Conference on Pediatrics, titled “Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers.” The event was organized by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi.
Speaking at the conference, Radhakrishnan called for extensive scientific research in Ayurveda to validate traditional medical practices. He emphasized that this would help build trust among patients and enhance the global recognition of Indian healthcare systems. He also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to develop AIIA to the level of top medical institutions like AIIMS.
On AIIA’s 10th anniversary, Radhakrishnan congratulated the institute and stressed the need for ongoing efforts in research, innovation, and academic excellence to bolster its status. He highlighted India’s traditional medical systems as invaluable heritage, rooted in centuries of wisdom and cultural intelligence.
The Vice President noted the establishment of a separate Ministry of AYUSH in 2014, which aims to strengthen education, expand health services, and promote scientific research. He pointed out the interdisciplinary collaborations between the AYUSH Ministry and institutions like ICMR, CSIR, DBT, DST, and AIIMS as crucial for integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare.
Radhakrishnan also mentioned the international recognition of yoga and the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar as significant milestones in sharing India’s traditional knowledge with the world.
Emphasizing the critical nature of child healthcare, he stated that the conference’s theme reflects a collective responsibility to ensure every child grows up in a healthy and nurturing environment. He called for special attention to children’s nutrition, growth, development, disease prevention, and emotional well-being.
Looking ahead to 2047, Radhakrishnan stressed the need for sustained focus on child health and the quality of human capital to build a “developed India.” He urged researchers and healthcare professionals to preserve traditional knowledge and enhance it through scientific validation while placing child health at the forefront of their efforts.
During the event, the Vice President inaugurated several initiatives, including the AYUSH Startup Portal, the AIIA-IKene website, and the Ayurveda Digital Innovation and Venture Acceleration Facility. He also launched the Vaman App and the Panchakarma Assessment App. An international memorandum of understanding was exchanged between Maharishi International University, USA, and AIIA, New Delhi.
Before the conference, Radhakrishnan visited the AIIA hospital and its campus, where he observed the medical facilities and learned about the institute’s contributions to public health, including various medicinal plants and herbs showcased in the Dhanvantari Garden.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Minister of State for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, and AIIA Director Professor P.K. Prajapati, along with researchers, faculty members, and students.
