Shillong May 11: Meghalaya Governor, Tathagata Roy said that the traditional system of medicine using herbs and plants for medicinal purposes has been in existence for a very long time, and treatment with medicinal plants have minimal side effects.

The Governor who attended a programme on scientific discussion of Indigenous System of Medicines organized by MEBAAI Tribal Health & Wellness Centre at the Hawkers Free Zone Market, Golflink, here, stressed on the need to standardize, document, codify and systematize the indigenous system of medicines in the academic research centre to promote the potential of indigenous traditional medicinal plants of the State.

The programme was chaired Health and Family Welfare Minister, A. L. Hek.

In ensuring affordable health care for all people in the State, Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Pravin Bakshi, in his introductory speech informed that 550 traditional healers have been trained by the Bio Resources Development Council out of 1800 traditional healers already registered and documented by the State Government.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Dr. H. Bani, Khasi healers, Thomas Iangjuh, Jr. Scientist Bio Resource Development Centre, Dr. Pradeep Joyti, CMD Vasudeva Kerala, Dr. Arun Shukhla, Proferssor of Engineering Bio-Sciences, IIT Kanpur and Dr. Mithu Baidya, Project Scientist, IIT Kanpur.