Date:14/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/14/stories/2007011413700400.htm

New Delhi

`Well-being tourism needed'

Parul Sharma

"Need to include spirituality in the field of medical sciences"

Senior physicians from several Delhi hospitals attended the function

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Highlighting the need to include spirituality in the field of medical sciences, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said on Saturday that she wanted to promote India as a hub of well-being tourism.

"It is not just medical tourism that we want to focus on. I want India to gain popularity as a centre for well-being tourism. I want this message to be spread across the world that doctors in India offer patients a holistic treatment and give medicine with spirituality," she said.

World Convention

Inaugurating the first World Convention on Science and Spirituality and the fourth International Vedic Convention, Ms. Soni said she wanted to know from all the spiritual gurus and healers how spirituality could be introduced in the lives of the poor and disadvantaged sections of society.

World-renowned motivational speaker and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra said people should develop love and compassion for all other human beings.

"Individual and institutional egos should be kept out of way in the movement of consciousness," Chopra said.

Senior physicians from several Delhi hospitals who attended the inaugural function of the two-day convention also underlined the need to integrate spiritual healing in health care practices of the country for inner and outer well-being of individuals.