Mr Ratan Tata, Tata Group Chairman, on Thursday launched the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine and the 100-bed Ayurveda and Integrative Healthcare Centre that are fully funded by four Tata trusts.

The institute, I-AIM, and the hospital based on traditional medicine, have been developed at a cost of Rs 20 crore by the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions at its Yelahanka campus near here.

With scientific approach

Mr Tata said the goodness of vintage ayurveda should be brought forward by blending it with the scientific approach of Western medicine.

The Chairman of Knowledge Commission, Mr Sam Pitroda, who is I-AIM's Founder Chairman, said the hospital would focus on sustainable non-Western healthcare models that are based on traditional wisdom.

Herbal drugs

It would promote preventive health through yoga and curative medicine through modern ayurveda.

It was working out ways to commercialise its herbal drug research pipeline and funding options. The Medical Director, Dr G. Gangadharan, said I-AIM was currently developing scientifically validated and affordable medicine to treat anaemia, diarrhoea, diabetes, besides nutraceutical products and copper-based purification of water.

Some of these would be ready for the market in two years.

The hospital has 20 full-time doctors and offered consultation, yoga, besides eight services including ayurveda, panchakarma, neurological disorders and therapy for bone and spine problems.

Doctors and para-medical staff are trained at the institute.

Traditional medicine

The parent foundation, FRLHT, which has spearheaded conservation of medicinal plants and promotion of traditional medicine across the country, is supported by Danish funds and the Dorabji Tata Trust.

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