Dr Manish Soni, District Fluorosis Consultant, Govt of Rajasthan, elaborates on the efforts taken by GoI to integrate AYUSH in mainstream healthcare
Complementary and alternative medicine or traditional medicine is rapidly growing worldwide. Now-a-days people are becoming concerned about the adverse effects of chemical-based drugs and the escalating costs of conventional healthcare. Due to the increased risk of lifestyle-related diseases, patients are now looking for simpler, gentler therapies for improving their quality of life and avoiding iatrogenic problems.
AYUSH is an initiative of Government of India (GoI) to promote the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. AYUSH, as the name itself represents, is an acronym for the Indian system of medicines i.e. Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy. These systems are in practice for a long time. These treatments are now well known globally and are much accepted as well. These are not only used for various treatments but are also becoming a way of life. This alternative medicinal system is widely accepted due to their easy accessibility and is within the financial reach of patients.
For the development of education and research in AYUSH, the GoI has formed a separate Ministry of AYUSH on November 9, 2014 to ensure the optimal development and propagation of AYUSH systems of healthcare.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda is the science of life which is described as fundamental philosophies about life, disease, and health. Ayurveda believes that positive health is the basis for attaining four cherished goals of life (chaturvidh purushartha) viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. All these four goals cannot be achieved without sound positive health.
Yoga: It was founded by saints and sages thousands of years ago. Maharshi Patanjali is called the Father of Yoga. He advocated the eight folds path of Yoga, popularly known as ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ for all-round development of human beings. Yoga brings harmony between body and mind.
Naturopathy: It is merely based on philosophy and is a science of drugless system of healing. Naturopathy has a great health promotive and restorative, disease preventive and curative potential.
Unani: This system of medicine originated in Greece, but India is one of the leading countries that follows the Unani medicinal system. The Science of Unani medicine studies various states of the body. It is based on the wellknown four- humour theory of Hippocrates.
Siddha: The term Siddha means powers and Siddhars were Tapasvi’s who gained powers and helped cure people using these powers. It is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. This system is therapeutic in nature, and its literature is mainly in the Tamil language.
Sowa Rigpa: It is a very recently recognised system of medicine which is mainly popular in the Trans-Himalayan region.
Homeopathy: The word ‘Homoeopathy’ is derived from two Greek words, Homois meaning similar and pathos meaning suffering. It is based on the natural law of healing- Similia Similibus Curantur which means ‘likes are cured by likes.’ It is now practiced across the globe. It is a method of treating diseases by administering drugs.
Objectives of GoI
- Mainstreaming Ayush to Sub Centres, primary health centres, and community health centre level in the healthcare system
- Improving access to and public health delivery through Ayush system
- Promotion of health and prevention of disease by propagating Ayush practices
- Development of human resource in Ayush system
- The growth of medicinal plant sector
- Quality research in AYUSH system
- To provide cost-effective AYUSH Services, with a universal access through upgrading AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (Dhs).
- To strengthen institutional capacity at the state level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, state govenrnment ASU&H Pharmacies, drug testing laboratories and ASU&H enforcement mechanism
- Support cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) so as to provide a sustained supply of quality raw materials and support certification mechanism for quality standards, good agricultural/ collection/ storage practices
- Support setting up of clusters through convergence of cultivation, warehousing, value addition and marketing and development of infrastructure for entrepreneurs.
Greater infrastructure which is available with AYUSH system to provide healthcare to our people, which are underutilised.
Certain measures should be taken for maximum utilisation of these facilities. Integration of these services, at the appropriate levels is required.
GoI is emphasising on a meaningful phased integration of Indian Systems of Medicines with the modern medicines, plans for health and human development. It has a special focus on agriculture and food products, rural development, education and social welfare, housing, water supply and sanitation.
The resurgence of interest in Ayurveda and other Indian Systems of Medicine in India and abroad and the opportunities created by such interest have been well perceived in the government.
As per recommendation of the Central Council for Health and Family Welfare (in 1999) at least one doctor from the AYUSH system should be available in every primary healthcare centre and AYUSH doctors should fill the vacancies caused by non-availability of the allopathic doctor.
Strengthening the medical education of AYUSH system
Medical education in AYUSH system has been a cause of concern. The Central Councils have implemented various educational regulations to ensure minimum standards of education.
Medicinal plants
AYUSH doctors use predominantly organic materials for the preparation of their drugs. Most of these plants grow in the wild as a natural component of the vegetation of particular regions. In the absence of a scientific system for collection and fostering regeneration of such plants, several species have either been completely lost or become endangered. Raw material supply and its quality is a common problem for AYUSH system.
Revitalisation of local health traditions
Revitalisation of folk health traditions related to birth attendants, herbal healers, bone settlers, Visha healers etc., would figure in the agenda of the AYUSH sector to be selectively identified, reinforced, validated and then propagated for use in a wider community.
Medical tourism and export of ISM practitioners
The interest in our systems overseas for gentler and plant-based treatment has been growing rapidly. More than that, certain therapies are becoming extremely popular and tourists/ visitors come to India for such therapies like Panchkarma and Yoga. Medical tourism not only popularises our system but offers a good avenue for foreign exchange earning.
Along with implementing the policy of the Central government, State Govenrment of Rajasthan has taken one step ahead and initiated an Adarsh PHC Yojana in which a PHC in every block is identified and named it as Adarsh PHC. It is further strengthened by appointing an AYUSH doctor along with a medical officer and providing AYUSH medicines and started cultivating medicinal plants in PHC. AYUSH doctor has the responsibility of conducting YOGA session every morning. In the second phase of Adarsh PHC yojana, the government is planning to appoint two PHC in every block.
Source:
http://ayush.gov.in/
http://www.nhp.gov.in/ayurveda_mty
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