As part of its strategy to disseminate and propagate alternative medicines, the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines regularly organises conferences, seminars, symposiums and exhibitions. The highlight of the Board’s many events are its annual international conferences of which it has thus far successfully organised Eleven besides Eighteen national conferences. These events provide a platform for medical practitioners from all over the world to interact with each other, exchange insights and information on the latest developments and trends in the field of alternative medicine and collectively charter a future course of action to bring alternative and complementary medicines into the medical mainstream. These conferences also provide an ideal opportunity to students and budding practitioners of alternative medicines to interact with renowned and experienced practitioners from all over the world.
The Board’s large number of International Conferences were attended by eminent practitioners, health and social workers from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, China, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Romania, The Netherlands, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia besides neighboring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
Besides the numerous stalwarts from the field of alternative medicines, the Board’s conferences have come to the attention of international figures and dignitaries from around the world who have been most forthcoming in their praise and support of these events. Prominent amongst those who have expressed their support are the WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the President and Vice-President of India, Government Ministers and international world renowned personalities such as Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth, Rev. Desmond Tutu and UN Secretary Generals. The importance of these occasions is amply reflected by the participation of Mother Teresa, state governors, union and state level ministers, chief justices, judges and diplomats.
A unique aspect of these conferences is the Awards Presentation Ceremony at which dedicated practitioners from all over the world are conferred awards and accolades for their achievements and services. The Board has also acknowledged the achievements of persons of international renown from various walks of life including Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Lama Gangchen, (President of the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation), Dr. Robert Muller (Chancellor of the United Nations Peace University) and Nobel laureates Prof. Amartya Sen and Charles Townes.