The Indian Board of Alternative Medicines (IBAM) has successfully organised a number of international and national conferences which were attended by renowned doctors, practitioners and delegates from all over the world besides a host of dignitaries and eminent persons from all walks of life. These events provide a platform to the alternative medical fraternity to congregate

• The Board is engaged in a number of philanthropic and charitable activities in the form of free clinics and camps and through collaborations with medical and social welfare organisations. Some of its activities include sponsoring the education of needy students, distribution of medicines, blankets and food supplies and rendering of assistance during natural calamities.

• It recently made a financial contribution to Rastriya Arogya Nidhi – a scheme by the Govt. of India to raise funds for the poor for the treatment of life threatening diseases.

• Education is the chief tool used by the Board to popularise and promote alternative medicines.  Towards this end, it has trained thousands of students in India and abroad through its courses in various alternative therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biochemic medicines, electro-homoeopathy, reiki etc.  To further advance research and training in alternative medicines, the Board has established the Open International Institute for Alternative Medicines with Lama Gangchen, founder of Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, Italy as its Honorary Chancellor Emeritus. The institute is a member of the Open International Council for Open and Distance Education, Norway (affiliated to UNESCO).

• The Board conducts practical training in alternative therapies and holistic healing techniques in addition to short orientation courses for practitioners and introductory courses for beginners. Besides practical training, the Board also conducts clinical training on a monthly basis. New and innovative methods of teaching are employed by an experienced faculty, the emphasis being on simulating an environment akin to that which students are likely to experience in their professional practice.

• A number of renowned persons from all walks of life are associated with the Board in their capacity as its Honorary Patrons and Advisors. They include Dr. Rodrigo Cardoza, former President of Costa Rica, Dr. Robert Muller, former Asst. Secy. Genl., United Nations, Shri Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Dr. C. Norman Shealy, founder of the American Holistic Medical Association and author of numerous books on alternative medicine and Dr. Kim Jobst, Editor – in Chief of the Scientific Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicines, to name a few.

• The IBAM has recognised the contribution and achievements of numerous dedicated practitioners and meritorious students, from all over the country and abroad, through awards and citations as a gesture of encouragement and acknowledgement of their efforts.

• Through the publication of books, journals, souvenirs etc., the Board strives to provide its students and health professionals quality education and reading material keeping them abreast of current trends and developments in the field of alternative medicines.

• The Board has acknowledged the support and achievements of a number of distinguished persons by felicitating them with awards and accolades. Prominent recipients include Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, late Morarji Desai, a former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General of the UN, Nobel laureates Charles Townes and Prof. Amartya Sen and Lama Gangchen, president of the World Peace Foundation, Italy.

• A voluminous international directory containing the names, addresses and details of practitioners, publishers, treatment centres, manufacturers of instruments & medicines, research and training organisations etc.  is in the offing. Those interested in featuring in this directory are welcome to send their details to the Board.

• In order to popularise alternative medicines and in keeping with its philanthropic philosophy, the Board has organised a number of free training classes.

•  The Board is affiliated to over fifty renowned organisations worldwide including the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (affiliated to WHO) and the International Association of Educators for World Peace (consultative status with UN – UNICEF, UNESCO and ECOSOC).

•  The Board has a unique facility of enrolment by which successful students and experienced practitioners are granted registration for practice. This facility has secured the rights and privileges of alternative medical practitioners, especially in rural areas, enabling them to discharge their duties with confidence and competence. These certified practitioners are rendering humanitarian service to society and earning a respectable livelihood in the process.  The Board has over 70,000 practitioners on its rolls.

At present, the Board has over 195 affiliated centres in India with almost every state in the country having a centre functioning under its auspices. These centres are vital to the Board’s efforts to impart education in alternative medicines besides providing essential medical and humanitarian service to the communities they are based in and the nation in general.

The Board, represented by its president, Dr. S. K. Agarwal, has been an active participant in a number of international conferences and events.  Dr. Agarwal was a prominent participant in the Conference on Integration of Traditional Medicine (CAM) and Modern Medicine (organised by the Islamic Organisation for Medical Sciences and the Govt. of Egypt in collaboration with WHO’s Regional Office for the Mediterranean Region) held in Cairo in October 2002. The Board also participated in the 6th International Conference on Homeopathy, Acupuncture & Complementary Medicine held in Malaysia.

In keeping with its commitment to peaceful progress and development, the Board endorsed the petition of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War against the war in Iraq and is a founder member of the Agito Mundo Network / Move for Health aimed at involving people in physical activity to prevent disease.

The Board is constantly engaging with the government to recognise and develop alternative medicines and has made numerous representations to high-ranking officials and dignitaries including the President and Vice President of India.  Dr. S. K. Agarwal was also privileged to meet Ms. Gloria Aroyo, then Vice President and present President of the Philippines, the first country in the world to have enacted legislation recognising alternative medicines.