By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, March 23: Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, along with a battery of senior Tibetan officials, today attended the 51st founding anniversary function of the Tibetan medicine’s premiere institute in exile – the Dharamshala based Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang).

Speaking at the function, which also marked the closing of the institute’s yearlong golden jubilee commemorations, Dr Sangay urged Men-Tsee-Khang to collaborate with overseas medical colleges.

“I am confident that one day Tibetan medicine will be in as much demand as other medicines in the international market,” Dr Sangay said addressing a host of Tibetan doctors and astrologers. “You must collaborate with other overseas medical colleges in the near future.”

Exactly a year ago, on the institute’s golden jubilee celebrations, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had called for an evolution of the Tibetan medical system based on research projects aimed at enhancing the quality of the ancient Tibetan medicinal system.

Acknowledging the efforts of older generation, Kalon Tripa said that Men-Tsee-Khang is the only institute in the exile Tibetan community which stands true to the present Kashag’s policies of unity, self-reliance, and innovation.

“Men-Tsee-Khang is truly self-reliant and besides standing on its own feet, it also contributes a lot to the Central Tibetan Administration,” Dr Sangay noted.

Established in 1916 by the Great 13th Dalai Lama in Tibet, Men-Tsee-Khang was re-established in exile in 1961 to promote and practise gSowa-rigpa, the Tibetan system of medicine, astronomy and astrology and provide accessible health care and produce Tibetan medicines in an environmentally sensitive manner.

The institute recently had a change in administration with Tsering Tashi, a former director, taking charge earlier this month.

Hundreds of doctors and astrologers from 52 Men-Tsee-Khang branches attended today’s function.

The institute has produced 480 doctors in the last 51 years.