INTRODUCTION

1st Asia Pacific Congress on Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and Expo Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, scheduled for the last week of September. This three-day event is the first ever event which is specifically designed for the ultimate showcase of the growth and development of Indian Systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy) which will enhance the presence of ISM in this region. It also aims to create the awareness of ISM to the health ministries with its objective of including ISM into the mainstream public health system. It is one of the 1st Conference & Exhibition on Indian Systems of medicine of its kind in Malaysia.

This Event is jointly organized by World Ayurveda congress and Integrated Healthcare Sciences Village Sdn. Bhd. World Ayurveda congress is the largest platform of Ayurveda in the world. It is a voluntary organisation dealing with popularization of Ayurveda and other ISM as evidence based medical science. This once in two year event is devoted exclusively towards Ayurveda and re-instating its glory and healthcare principles across the world. This platform was developed to throw light on different issues in Ayurveda, concerning education and research, drug development, manufacturing, medicinal plantation and conservation, keeping in view with global scenario. (www.ayurworld.org ) Asia Pacific Congress on Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and Expo Kuala Lumpur is the Asia pacific regional event of World Ayurveda congress, the European one was successfully conducted in Baden Baden Germany in October 10-11, 2009 with the Support of Department of AYUSH.

Country profile - Malaysia with its successful and effective guidelines and technology can take on the role as a leading player in the field of Traditional medicine. Even though Malaysia has become one of the first countries in this region to mainstream traditional medicine products and services providers, the need of awareness about ISM as evidence based medical systems is still an issue in this part of the world. Even though traditional medicine industry is booming in the world, the questions are arising from all sorts of angles about the quality safety and efficacy of the Traditional medicine systems in the present world of unethical commercialization. Role of Malaysia as a Traditional Medicine hub is evident as it has already regulated the Traditional Medicine system with great care for its quality and safety. ISM also needs to establish its potentials as one of the best traditional medicines systems in the world