Ayurveda is one of the most ancient systems of medicine in the world, its antiquity going back to the Vedas in India. Many thinkers believe that Ayurvedic knowledge-base represents the world view of its time although India is the principal holder of this knowledge-base where it grew and flourished through the ages. Ayurveda has continued to be in unbroken practice for thousands of years and even now is responsible for health care coverage of over 70 percent of the Indian population. Currently it is one of the six official systems of Medicine in India. The recent years have shown tremendous resurgence of interest in study and practice of Ayurveda world over because of its unique pro nature holistic approach and safe cost effective green pharmacy.

It is estimated that there are nearly 450000 registered practitioners of Ayurveda in India and there are about 250 Ayurvedic colleges / Institutes with approximately 12000 UG and 1200 PG Annual Admission seats. There are over 8000 licensed pharmacies manufacturing classical and branded Ayurvedic medicines with a reflected domestic annual turnover of Rs.10, 000 crores and an export of over 1000 crores.  In spite of this huge infrastructure the whole sector continues to remain sick and unorganized and is still out of the main stream of the health care delivery system of this country in contrast to our neighbor country China where the traditional Chinese medicine is well placed as mainstream Medicare. All this warrant a concerted effort at all levels to raise the status of Ayurveda and its main streaming. Ever since the department of AYUSH has been established in the Govt. of India some efforts are being made at Governmental level but there is a lot of things which need to be done at non Governmental levels and by professional organizations so that a right image may be projected and a true public awareness may be created.

 There have been several Associations and Organizations active quite for some time in this sector. Ayurveda Mahasammelan and National Integrated Medical Association are the two major professional organizations at all India level representing two different ideologies and are associated with two different kinds of Ayurvedic practitioners. Both these Associations have done commendable service to the cause of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic practitioners within their own vision. NIMA is an organization of integrated practitioners which works for the right of its members to practice Modern Medicine without caring much about Ayurveda while Ayurveda Mahasammelan patronizes Ayurvedic practitioners who believe in core practice of Ayurveda and are reluctant to adopt progressive outlook. Hence majority of institutionally trained PG degree / doctorate holding Ayurvedic doctors and many other general Ayurvedic practitioners who are interested in rational practice of Ayurveda and now form the mainstream of Ayurveda do not fit in any of the above mentioned two organizations. The like minded mainstream practitioners of Ayurveda who feel that Ayurveda should adopt a rational progressive outlook with scientific temper and should gradually transform itself into a strong evidence based holistic science of health care and medicine, have joined hands to launch an Association of Ayurvedic Physicians of India at national level. This Association is now registered wide Reg. no. 437 / 2008-09 dated June 17, 2008 and it was formally inaugurated in Varanasi on Nov.14.2008 with the undersigned as its first and founder President.

Aryavaidyashala, Kottakkal, Kerala, Near Kalikut

 Chief physician and Managing trustee - Dr. P. K. Warrier