"Indians must wake up to the urgency of exploring and researching its herbal treasure with caution and concern. Only then it can stop other countries from obtaining patent on its medicinal herbs," experts from the region held unequivocally as they stressed the need to streamline major diseases with a systematic plan to check them.

In his inaugural lecture, Director of Regional Research Lab of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Jammu, S.S. Handa said that in order to move ahead in the field of medicine research a holistic and integrated approach was a must.

Handa said that the Indian systems of medicine had assumed great significance in the present day. " Let the Indian scientists too show interest in standardisation and quality control of medicines through a reverse science mechanism, where we test the efficacy of a medicinal plant clinically and then apply science. Let the Indian doctors come forward to integrate this traditional system with the western methodology for a better effect.," he said, referring to the controversy on turmeric.

A biochemistry expert from PGI, K.K. Kohli spoke on the significance of genome research im medical sciences and a chemistry professor from Punjab University Harjinder Singh deliberated on the social aspect of challenges to the medical sciences in India in the coming century.