Ayurvedic medical therapy is fast catching up in the United Arab Emirates (uae). The newly inaugurated Ayurvedic Herbal Health Centre, the first complete ayurvedic institution in the uae, has started offering a wide range of treatments to patients. The uae's federal health services laws now permit practise of recognised alternative systems of medicine in the country. "Public hospitals could start offering alternative medicine services to patients,' said Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr-al-Qasimi, assistant undersecretary in the ministry of health. He indicated that the thrust towards alternative medicine was gaining momentum, and revealed that the ministry had set up a new department to scrutinise applications on a case-by-case basis. "We are closely studying alternative forms now and granting permission thereafter,' he added.