Chennai, December 20, 2024 : Centre for Integrative Medical Research (CIMR) of Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) has organised IMS – 2024, a two-day National Conference on Integrative Medical Sciences to deliberate on the ways to promote the adoption of integrative medicine, and to facilitate the exchange of best practices from various centres of medical excellence across the country.
Dr. K. Narayanasamy, Vice-Chancellor, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University inaugurated the conference. Dr. G. Sivaraman, Managing Director, Arogya Healthcare provided the valedictory address.
The conference has attracted the participation of 450 experts, professionals cutting across the conventional and traditional medical streams, research scholars, and executives from the healthcare industry, from all over the country. It features about 200 oral and 45 poster presentations.
The conference had 25 eminent speakers representing premier institutions such as INRA-National Institute of Agronomic Research, Agadir, Morocco; Dar Si Hmad, Quebec, Canada; National Siddha Institute, Tripura University, Yenepoya University, Karnataka; Medway Heart Institute, and Sivaraj Homeopathy College and Research Institute, Salem. The addresses were centered on a wide range of topics such as clinical-based studies, herbal plant derivatives, nutraceuticals, integrative oncology, pain management, yoga, preventive and nutritive medicine, nanotechnology and molecular tools and computational biology in integrative and traditional medicine.
In his comments, Dr. P. Sasikumar, Dean, SBMCH, said, “Integrative medicine combines the strengths of both conventional and traditional systems of medicine to provide holistic, patient-centered care. As evidence grows on its benefits—particularly for lifestyle diseases and chronic conditions—it is imperative to mainstream this approach for improved health outcomes. We are proud to take the initiative of organising a national-level conference on integrative medicine. It is especially encouraging to see the participation of specialists in modern medicine in large numbers who are keen to explore how integrative practices can be adopted in clinical settings. This conference will play a key role in creating awareness about national guidelines, evidence-based outcomes, and best practices in integrative medicine from leading medical institutions. At SBMCH, we are committed to conducting research in this promising field to advance the standards of healthcare and promote holistic treatment solutions.”
In his comments, Dr. Rathinam Raja, Professor & Director, CIMR, and organising secretary of a IMS 2024, said, “Since its inception in 2007, our center has been at the forefront of promoting research in integrative medicine, earning 7 patents and publishing nearly 100 papers on integrative medicine and AYUSH. As a pioneer in this field, we recognise that while there are many pockets of excellence in integrative medicine across India, there is an urgent need for a national-level platform where stakeholders can come together to network, share knowledge, and collaborate for the benefit of the healthcare industry and patients. This conference aims to bridge that gap by providing a platform to discuss evidence, standards, and guidelines, which will instill confidence among healthcare professionals to adopt integrative medicine. The objective of the conference aligns with the central government’s vision of evolving a truly holistic approach to healthcare—leveraging the strengths of all medical systems across the continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment to rehabilitation.”
Dr. K. Prabhu, Associate Professor & Joint Director, Centre for Integrative Medical Research (CIMR), Co-Organising Secretary of IMS – 2024; Advisory committee members of SBMCH: Dr. R. Veerabahu, Dr. S. Bhuminathan, Dr. D. Manoharan, Dr. M.R. Renuka Devi, and Dr. Gopi Ayyaswamy, were among the dignitaries who attended the conference.