India is trying to augment exports of AYUSH products in European Union (EU) countries and other developed parts of the world, disclosed its Joint Secretary, Jitendra Sharma. 

Speaking on the occasion of 2nd National Conference "Mainstreaming AYUSH" under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the national capital, Sharma said, "AYUSH Ministry has intensely been engaging with authorities in EU and other parts of the developed world including Australia to enhance the penetration of AYUSH products in international market and engaging with International agencies of its parleys and negotiations AYUSH products at present face export problems and even threats for refusal of their acceptance and these matters are being resolved step by step."

The Joint Secretary hoped that in the backdrop of emerging developments, the manufacturers of AYUSH products will improve their quality as per prescribed standards to save India any sort of embarrassment in the international market.

On a query raised during the conference on the expectations of Union AYUSH Ministry in the forthcoming budget, Sharma exuded confidence that in the Ministry of AYUSH is getting high priority and the needed funding support. 

"I wish to emphasize here that more than higher allocations, what is important for the AYUSH Ministry is if it utilizes the allocated budgetary support for promotion of AYUSH in the current fiscal. I am glad to report that the Ministry has utilized Rs.720 crores until January 2015 out of its available allocation of Rs.900 crores for the fiscal 2015-16," he said.

Speaking on the occasion the Chairman, Committee on AYUSH, PHD Chamber, Pradeep Multani expressed the need to have a separate drug controller for Indian medicine in line with the government’s initiative of creating a separate Ministry. 

He also reiterated the commitment of the Chamber that it would provide all the necessary inputs and suggestions to the Ministry of AYUSH to promote it so that AYUSH evolves equally with modern medicine. In his address its Co-Chairman, Dr. J L N Sastry demanded the higher GDP allocations for promotion of AYUSH and sought right policy framework from the government so that it gets a level playing field to take AYUSH at par with allopathy.