NITI Aayog Member (Health) Prof. (Dr.) M. Srinivas visited the CCRAS–National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad on September 11, 2026, accompanied by Dr. Shobhit Kumar (OSD Health) and Dr. Janvi Prajapati (Young Professional) from NITI Aayog. During the visit, Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General of CCRAS, welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the institute's initiatives, digital portals, repositories, and historical research in traditional systems of medicine, emphasizing NIIMH's strategic role in documenting and preserving India's medical heritage. Dr. Goli Penchala Prasad, Assistant Director In-charge of NIIMH, provided an overview of the institute's activities, key milestones, and achievements.
Prof. Srinivas toured the museum, library, and research divisions, interacted with officers and project staff, and viewed a documentary on Agalya and the Rani Rudramadevi inscription developed under the SAHI project. In his address, he commended CCRAS–NIIMH's efforts in digitizing rare manuscripts, maintaining historical scientific records, and strengthening preservation through advanced information systems and research portals. He called for adopting international practices and standards for museum preservation and stressed the importance of introducing training courses, certificate courses, and collaborative joint post-doctoral programs to build capacity and develop skilled manpower.
Prof. Srinivas recommended positioning NIIMH as an educational tourism destination for medical and allied discipline students and professionals, emphasizing the need to enhance the institute's visibility and global recognition. He suggested engaging with regulatory bodies including the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to connect with students and faculty, and developing mini-museums at IITs and other Institutions of National Importance for wider dissemination. He described NIIMH as a 'Temple' preserving India's rich medical history and appreciated the dedication of its leadership and staff in protecting this heritage for future generations, assuring support for strengthening its activities.