Prof. (Dr.) M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Government of India, visited the CCRAS–National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Ministry of Ayush, Hyderabad. He was accompanied by Dr. Shobhit Kumar, OSD (Health), NITI Aayog, and Dr. Janvi Prajapati, Young Professional, NITI Aayog.
Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), New Delhi, welcomed Prof. Srinivas and briefed him on the institute’s initiatives, digital portals, repositories and historical research in traditional systems of medicine. He also emphasised the strategic role of NIIMH in documenting and preserving India’s rich medical heritage. Dr. Goli Penchala Prasad, Assistant Director In-charge, NIIMH, gave an overview of the institute’s activities, key milestones and achievements.
During the visit, Prof. Srinivas visited the museum, library and research divisions and interacted with officers and project staff. He also viewed a documentary on Agalya and the Rani Rudramadevi inscription, developed by the institute under the SAHI project.
Prof. (Dr.) M. Srinivas, in his address, commended the efforts of CCRAS–NIIMH in digitising rare manuscripts, maintaining historical scientific records and strengthening the preservation of India’s medical heritage through advanced information systems and research portals.
Prof. Srinivas called for adoption of international practices and standards for the preservation and maintenance of the museum. He also stressed the importance of introducing training courses, certificate courses and collaborative joint post-doctoral programmes to build capacity and develop skilled manpower for the preservation of India’s rich medical heritage.
Prof. Srinivas also suggested positioning NIIMH as a destination for educational tourism for students and professionals from medical and allied disciplines. He emphasised the need to enhance the institute’s visibility and global recognition.
He further recommended that NIIMH engage with regulatory bodies such as the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to connect with students and faculty. He also suggested developing mini-museums at IITs and other Institutions of National Importance to facilitate wider dissemination of India’s rich medical heritage.
Prof. Srinivas appreciated the efforts of the institute towards preserving India’s rich medical heritage and assured support for further strengthening its activities. In the visitors’ book, he described NIIMH as a “Temple” preserving India’s rich medical history and appreciated the dedication of its leadership and staff towards protecting and preserving the heritage for future generations.