Parliament has adopted a bill to recognise within the definition of Indian medicine the Sowa-Rigpa system practised in sub-Himalayan region of the country.

The objective to bring to mainstream Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine in regions where it is prevalent,” Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said replying to a debate on the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010 in the Lok Sabha.

Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine is practised in sub-Himalayan region and other parts of the country besides Tibet, Mongolia,Japan and some other countries, he said.

The bill will ensure protection and preservation of this ancient system of medicine and will help its propagation and development.

Besides, it would lead to setting up of a regulatory mechanism in the field of education and practice of Sowa-Rigpa.

The government had also decided to set up a Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine, which now would also include Sowa-Rigpa.

The passage of the bill will enable setting minimum standards for education and maintain a register of all practitioners of Sowa-Rigpa.