CSIR chief calls for protection of Indian herbal medicine

India should invest consciously in production-oriented research programmes and projects to manage in the competitive global market, says Dr R A Mashelkar, director general of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.

India should also plan out programmes on scientific lines to protect world rights on its rich heritage of Ayurvedic and herbal medicines, he said while presiding over the 32nd Marathi Vigyan Sammelan held in Panaji.

India should also update knowledge on getting patents, copyrights and designs, Dr Mashelkar said, referring to his recent victory over a patent filed in America for the curative and other properties of turmeric.

Though India has made remarkable progress in rice and milk production, even in space research, he said, the lack of contact between science and commerce was a big handicap. Dr Mashelkar said the business community should adopt a scientific approach towards the market economy, and that scientists and researchers should consciously divert their efforts towards the country's economic growth. The CSIR chief also wanted the Indian business community to initiate a dialogue with state-owned national laboratories, adding that, "Knowledge is creator of wealth."

Dr Mashelkar said the CSIR, Lucknow, had discovered a component in herbal medicine which improved memory while CSIR, Jammu has discovered one bio-enhancer which enhances medicinal efficacy. To be marketed by Cadila, the use of the bio-enhancer reduces the need for any other medicine to half the usually prescribed dose, he said, adding that this would save money and reduce the side effects produced by some medicines.

Identifying medical components and chemicals in herbal medicine and patenting them, Dr Mashelkar felt, would strengthen India's position in the global market. EARLIER FEATURES: The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said, To Talk Of Turmeric And Queens
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