Homoeopathy as a Component of Indian Healthcare, Health News, ET HealthWorld
By IAS (Dr) Heera LalLucknow: The homoeopathic fraternity is celebrating World Homeopathy Day on April 10 2023, which is the birth anniversary of the founder of homoeopathy, Dr Samuel Hahnemann. The day is observed as a tribute to homoeopathy and its contribution to the world of medicine. This year, with the theme of One Health, One Family, it is being hoped that homoeopathy will play a key role in realising the dream of a healthier New India in the days to come. The efforts by the Government of India for providing quality integrative healthcare for its citizens, combined with the acceptance for traditional complementary systems of medicine have opened the doors for holistic medical systems like homoeopathy to flourish.Homoeopathy is well known for its holistic approach and gentle way of healing. Not only the masses, but Homoeopathy has also influenced luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Kalam Azad, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekanand etc. Homoeopathic treatment is not only affordable but is also being proven to be effective for the treatment of common ailments of all age groups, epidemic illnesses, management of more severe illnesses along with conventional treatment, as a preventive for infections, and as a palliative in end-stage diseases to improve quality of life. Homoeopathy can also be a potential solution to problems like antibiotic resistance. The adverse effects are reported to be very rare with homoeopathic medicines. The efficacy of homoeopathy in all these aspects is being validated by rigorous research the world over. Also, surveys in various countries have revealed that the number of users of homoeopathy are continually on the rise, which enables the policymakers to designate a fair share to homoeopathy as a component of the Indian healthcare system.The Ministry of Ayush has been instrumental in bringing about monumental reforms in the regulation, practice, education and research in Homoeopathy, and other AYUSH systems. The primary step in this direction was the creation of a full-fledged Ministry of Ayush on 9th November, 2014 as an upgradation of the Department of AYUSH. The mandate was to vigorously promote and propagate Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy as the preferred therapeutic modalities for attaining a healthy India. It is noticeable that the Ministry is committed to infusing the wisdom of traditional and alternative systems of medicine with the methodologies of modern science; scientific validation of the scope and utility of these systems and presenting a pluralistic and integrative scheme of healthcare services. The Government of India has been undertaking various AYUSH activities for effective human resource development, provision of quality Ayush services, Information, Education and Communication activities,quality research in Ayush, growth of the medicinal plants sector, drug administration, and international exchange programme/ seminars/ workshops on Ayush. The autonomous bodies and organisations of the Ministry that enable the implementation of such activities in the field of Homoeopathy are Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, National Commission for Homoeopathy, National Institute of Homeopathy, North-Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, and Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy. The outcome of such continued efforts of all the stakeholders is that India now has more than three lakh qualified and registered homoeopathic practitioners who render their services for the citizens healthcare; 8500+ Homoeopathy dispensaries in 35 states and union territories, 7900+ beds in 250+ Homoeopathy hospitals across India aid in reducing and sharing the burden on existing conventional medical healthcare infrastructure. Quality homoeopathic education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels is imparted in public and private homoeopathic medical colleges across India which comply with the stringent standards laid out by the regulatory authorities.Some of the Ayush schemes and programs by the Ministry which have been instrumental in implementing the vision to spread homeopathy are, National Ayush Mission (NAM), Promotion of IEC in Ayush, Ayurswasthya Yojana, Ayurgyan, Promotion of International Cooperation, Ayush Oushadhi Gunvattaevum Uttapadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), Champion Sector Scheme, Conservation Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants, and Initiatives/Programmes for Promotion and Propagation of Ayush. The promotion of Homoeopathy along with other systems of medicine is being done at various platforms, starting from the grassroot levels. Ayush-based lifestyles are promoted through behavioural change communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal herbs and provision of Ayush health services. Swasthya Rakshan Program, Schedule Caste Sub Plan Program, Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) are some of such initiatives. National institutes impart education, provide healthcare services, organise lecture series on lifestyle disorders, and widely publicise the scope of Ayush. The NPCDCS program for health promotion, prevention, and management of non-communicable diseases or lifestyle-related disorders was carried out in some districts utilising homoeopathy along with Yoga. Under the International Cooperation (IC) scheme, Ayush experts are deputed to foreign countries to participate in international meetings, conferences, training programs, and seminars.However, another point of emphasis is that, with the growing popularity of Homoeopathy, the need for quality medicines is also growing.It is pertinent that the standards for procuring, manufacturing and preparation of homoeopathic medicines are followed and patients get good quality medications. Under the Medicinal Plants component of the NAM scheme, prioritised cultivation of medicinal plants, primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc. is encouraged. Also, incentives are provided for Ayush drug manufacturers, entrepreneurs, Ayush institutions, etc. for participating in international exhibitions, conferences, workshops, trade fairs, etc. for generating awareness.The digital initiatives are being developed and implemented to make the best use of technology for recording and maintaining data, like Ayush Grid, Ayush Hospital Management Information System, National Ayush Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic Portal, e-Aushadhi Portal, Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, Ayush Research Portal, and e-Current Health Literature Awareness.In the coming times, India has the potential to be a role model for the rest of the world in terms of an integrative healthcare system that will cater to the health needs of all sections of society. And homoeopathy plays an important role in this pluralistic approach in medicine.IAS (Dr) Heera Lal, Additional Mission Director, National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are sole of the author and ETHealthworld does
Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 8:26 am