Traditional medicine should be explored: Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee today said traditional medical healing techniques should be explored in order to find cure for new-age diseases.

The President was speaking at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after he received the recommendations of the 'Healthcare Alliance'.

"The President said leading healthcare providers around the world are exploring the incredible promise of our traditional healing. This is an avenue that should be further dwelt upon and we may possibly discover new cures for the new-age medical problems.

"The President urged all present on the occasion to make it their mission to infuse in all a passion for healthy living," a statement from the President's House said.

The Alliance is a group of ten organisations including Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Bain and Company, Health Federation of India, McKinsey, FICCI, KPMG, All India Management Association, PWC and CII along with Apollo Hospitals group which are working for a roadmap for global healthcare for the future and has been raised by Apollo Hospitals group Chairman Prathap C Reddy.

The President also said all stakeholders in healthcare sector should come together to ensure better medical facilities to everyone.

"The President said the need of the hour is for a much greater convergence of all stakeholders towards the common goal of an improved healthcare delivery system. It is also important not to lose focus on the fact that a powerful driver of health is education. Innovative models of partnership between the public and private sectors can improve the situation in India and also provide insights for the developing world.

"Information, Communication and Technology can be a strong enabler in strengthening the reach of medical information and care. He stated that our healthcare systems must gear up to fully utilise this potential. As our battle against polio has shown, collective efforts can really make miracles happen," he said.