Dr Mansoor Ali
NCHERA- There is one more Bill seems to be almost ready for AYUSH !!
Govt of India has contemplated to form National Council for Higher Education and Research in Ayush (NCHERA).
This council will supervise all educational and research activities pertaining to AYUSH.
The National Commission for Human Resources for Health Bill – NCHRH 2011- as introduced in the Rajya Sabha, on 22nd December, 2011 to promote human resources in health sector and provide for mechanism for the determination, maintenance, coordination and regulation of standards of health education throughout the country to ensure adequate availability of human resources in all the States – solely for the Allopathic System of Medicine.
But Homoeopathy Comes under NCHERA with limited resources and powers.
I have tried to deliberate on the concerns.
Separating from the main stream will be detrimental to Homoeopathy, we being still at the beginning stages as an emerging healthcare option.
Homoeopathy deserve more intense research strategies & initiatives and by utilising fields like chemistry, nano technology, pathology etc in order to prove its scientificity better. The IIT Powai findings by Dr Jayesh Bellare (Extreme dilutions in Homoeopathy – A nanoparticulate perspective) is just a curtairaiser in this direction.
For that the larger research facilities integrated with other systems of medicine and other branches of sciences (pure sciences) are inevitable, which can materialize, if only we be the part of the larger Healthcare spectrum & Health Sciences University and in common healthcare perspectives which includes any future legislation by Govt of India related to Healthcare, Human resources in healthcare, etc. Homoeopathy cannot stand alone.
Study materials, books, syllabus etc are more or less same as allopathic system of medicine with Homoeopthic subjects added on. Being a stream of medicine which is of a European descend and an offshoot or rather ramified from then schools of medicines, Homoepathy is less closer to Indigenous systems of medicine & has a greater proximity to mainstream or conventional medicines.
Separating from the mainstream by legislation eventually would lead to cease the development of Homoeopathy in future which shall mean the loss of a great healthcare opportunity to masses in medical treatment at an imminent post-antibiotic era (as perceived from NDM strains) & drug-induced diseases in chronic ailments.
The outcry for wholistic approach in medical treatment echoes across the world healthcare scenario. Homoeopathy has to develop close to mainstream medicine rather than remain as an alternative system of medicine forever.
A certificate issued by AYUSH have comparatively negligible value than that of a common medical university or council as regards to job opportunities and prospects in other areas and countries.
Another observation is that separating the Medical Sciences under different headings may create unhealthy ego clashes, wastage of national resources and competitions among the alternative systems, which shall lead to undesirable, unethical practices, wrong practices in claims of funds related to extramural research programmes in the field of Health Services.
A Retrograde step
AYUSH to be integrated with mainstream health services
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on August 13,2009 approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
This was introduced during the 10th Five Year Plan with certain modifications for supporting the mainstreaming of AYUSH under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) at a total expenditure of Rs.650 crore.
The basic objectives of the scheme are to encourage the opening of general and specialized AYUSH treatment centers in allopathic hospitals with a view to integrate AYUSH health services with mainstream health services in the country, and to provide assistance to the State Government for the procurement and supply of essential drugs to AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries.
The scheme will provide AYUSH health care facilities to the people at large and will be implemented in all the State/Union Territories of the country.
The NRHM seeks to revitalize local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH (including manpower and drugs), to strengthen the Public Health System at all levels. It is decided that AYUSH medications shall be included in the drug kit of ASHA, The additional supply of generic drugs for common ailments at SC/PHC/CHC levels under the Mission shall also include AYUSH formulations. At the CHC level two rooms shall be provided for AYUSH practitioner and pharmacist under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) model. At the same time, single Doctor PHCs shall be upgraded totwo Doctor PHCs by inducting AYUSH practitioner at that level Improving the availability of AYUSH treatment faculties and integrating it with the existing Health Care Service Delivery System.
NRHM is the combination of national programmes, namely, the Reproductive and Child Health II project, (RCH II) the National Disease Control Programmes (NDCP) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) with Homoeopathy.
But this step of formation of NCHERA may be in the retrograde direction.
Be in the mainstream – not in the side line
I think it is better to be a part of NCHRH 2011 after the required amendment for the overall growth and development of the Homoeopathy than NCHERA
As per NCHRH 2011 draft – ‘Medicine’ means only allopathy,health professional means only allopaths…then the same Government may call Homeopaths as Health professionals in another bill NCHERA? – Is it possible? Never.That will surely contradict. What may be the denotation to Homeopathy medicines?…to name other than word ‘medicine’.
An integrated panel related to healthcare delivery and academics with well represented allopathic and alternative medicine experts shall be a much healthier apex level of control than independency which shall only help close doors of any levels of Integration between systems on any future date. Allopaths and their associated institutes will definitely close the door legally and substantially with claim.
We are already fed up with some of our bodies like CCH.
At least we have to learn something from our past.
Still some of our leaders are forcing and in favor of this separate body. Why?
Please think about this matter seriously and express your opinion here.
Which will definitely reach the concerned authorities including Govt of India?
Instead of alienating the status of AYUSH from the main stream let NCHERA specify a percentage for the R&D and also allied activities for the greater importance to Homeopathy.But need of the hour is whole hearted solid support from all Homeopaths irrespective of their identity.
Homoeopathy needs to be given more importance than allopathy, since we are in need of research. inspite of so much research, Allopathy is still costly . If enough research is done on Homoeopathy, health management in INDIA , can rely on HOMOEOPATHY to cure large number of diseases cost effectively.
It is very good for the central govt. have made a new bill for the development of Homeopathy. This new bill NCHERA, are very good in areas of like new research, & new inventions in the field of AYUSH medicines but it can be failed as development aspects of AYUSH.In our country the condition of Homeopathy are very poor & resources for the Homeopathy in govt sector is so poor that we can not boost up the development of Homeopathy in rural areas of India. In my opinion that strengthen the Homeopathy education & research by each state & central govt through blocking the affiliations of all malpracticing colleges in the country but there is did not need for separate bill for development of AYUSH.
Sir ,
This is an eternal truth that if you want to be in mainstream you have to be in the mainstream.. Govt. should not mimic to help us, the Homeopathic faculty.
There are many evidences with the Homeopathic practitioners and the various programs conducted by the govt itself which notifies the effectiveness and the reliability of the Homeopathy.
And apart from that Homeopathy has proved itself in many of the epidemic diseases may it be chicken gunia or the bird flu or the plague with very low disability and the mortality rates., and not only this there are thousands of patients who are benefited with Homeopathy..
If Govt is not really in the mood to give Homeopathy the authenticity then why is the govt taking so much pain to establish programs, planing, and expending money on it…???
Give us our proper and rightly right to be in the mainstream…
I certainly agree with the perspective that Homeopathy deserves to stand in line with mainstream medicine and all the objectives stated!
Homeopathy alone has the scope of putting an END to the ailments of modern lifestyle along with yoga!!!
It is also cost effective and has higher standards of care and cure rather than modern medicine!!!