Mallick, HNKumar, VM2017-03-102017-03-10201614 ,;S37-S4410.1007/s41105-015-0011-0https://dspace.sctimst.ac.in/handle/123456789/10435India is an ancient country with a vast population, diverse geography and culture. Although sleep medicine has been rapidly progressing during the last decade in the country, the ancient Indian literature is rich in descriptions of sleep physiology and the importance of sleep in life. In spite of rapid industrialization and the emergence of a modern 24/7 h society, knowledge about sleep and its disorders is lacking amongst the general public and doctors. A need is felt to raise the level of awareness of sleep to that of the level of nutrition and exercise. There is shortage of trained certified sleep specialists and technicians to meet the emerging demand. A need is felt to provide standardized sleep health care service. The role of professional sleep societies, industry, private enterprises and government agencies in promoting sleep medicine education in the country is emphasized. Vertical integration of education in sleep physiology and disorders, from school level to graduate and postgraduate medical education, is advocated. To create specialists in the discipline, horizontal integration with physiology, neurology, psychiatry and pulmonary medicine is a viable solution in this multidisciplinary subject. The government should recognize sleep as an important public health issue.Neurosciences & Neurology