Not yet decided about Homoeopathy
The Union Health Ministry is mulling to rope in volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society (ICRS) to propagate benefits of traditional Indian medicines such as ayurveda and unani in treating the ever-growing lifestyle diseases across the country.
The move follows concern that while non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes and strokes are on the increase, people are still unaware of the benefits of ayurveda, siddha, unani and yoga forms of medicine which have potential to treat several diseases without any side effects.
Sources said that the proposal was first mooted by Dr SP Agarwal, secretary general, IRCS, at a meeting with Ayush Department secretary Anil Kumar of the Health Ministry. He was of the opinion that there was great potential in the large number of volunteers for spreading awareness about the strength of Indian system of medicine, a senior health official said.
Agarwal also pointed out that while the core function of the Red Cross is community health besides blood donation and disaster management, the ICRS network can help in a major way in prevention of NCD which is increasing at an alarming rate due to changing lifestyle and eating habits.
ICRS has a total of 25 hospitals in different States across the country.
Ayush is already one of the core strategies to augment effective provisions of healthcare to masses under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
The role of Ayush doctors will be to focus on drugless intervention with an aim for prevention of the non-communicable diseases. “Diet control is one of the strategy in the NCD,” the official said.
“Ayush is a home-grown form of medicine. Everyone knows allopathic medicine is good but it has side effects and people are compelled to use them. Ayush does not have any side effects. We need to tell people the benefits of Ayush,” Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too had said recently.
Under the national programme for control of cancer, diabetes, CVD and stroke (NPCDCS), the Ministry rolled out public health programme in 30 districts of 21 States in the country.
According to various reports, NCDs are going to be a major challenge as they would account for 67% of total deaths by 2030. The main reasons behind NCDs are high usage of tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, stress, insufficient treatment and general lack of awareness among Indians [Source]
Note by Editor,
Dear Homeopathic leaders and Officials,
Please try to convince them the efficacy and cost effectiveness of Homeopathy in life style disorders. They will definitely include Homeopathy also
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