The tussle between the Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University and the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) has got bitter with the council serving a deadline on the varsity to spell out its stance on the syllabus for students of Indian systems of medicine.
The council wrote a letter on October 5, demanding reversal of the university's decision to remove allopathic content from the syllabus for courses on Indian systems of medicine, within 15 days. CCIM, the apex body for Indian medicine had earlier threatened to withdraw recognition for all courses on Indian medicine being conducted by the university.
The university had promised to withdraw another of its controversial decision - to remove the 'surgery' part from the name of the degree - but has been silent on reinstating the removed portions of the syllabus.
The university had decided that undergraduate students of traditional medicine course will not study allopathic contents including surgery, pharmacology, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology.
Following this, on August 17, CCIM secretary P R Sharma wrote a letter to the university stating that the university would be violating provisions of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970 if it deletes contents from the syllabus fixed by the council. State health minister V S Vijay had held a meeting with the university officials, Indian medicine experts, students and health department officials and announced that the university will neither tamper with the syllabus nor change the nomenclature of the degree.
But the university registrar Dr Sudha Seshayyan in a reply to CCIM on September 14saidthe university has decided not to alter the nomenclature of undergraduate degree in Indian medicine and homoeopathy courses. In a letter dated October 5, P R Sharma has asked the university to inform the CCIM about the action taken on the issue of syllabus revision within 15days. ACCIM official said the council would derecogonise all Indian medicine courses if the university does not oblige. The university decision will be vital for the students, who have threatened to go on an indefinite strike on October 20 if the university does not invalidate its syllabus revision.
Link: Original Article
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Kamis, 22 Desember 2011
Kamis, 28 Juli 2011
IIM-A asks AYUSH to follow Chinese medicine example
In a set of recommendations that Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has given the ministry of health and family welfare's department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) recently, the latter has been suggested to learn from the Chinese examples. IIM-A recommended AYUSH introduce farming of medicinal herbs and commence mass scientific validation of medicines like the Chinese did.
After IIM-A was recently entrusted with the task of drawing the recommendations by AYUSH, the institute charted the recommendations by hosting a three-tier set of programmes which were attended by top level managers, professors, doctors, researchers and field workers. With suggestions from the participants, the recommendations were put together by the members of faculty of IIM-A including Anil Gupta, Mukul Dixit, Sanjay Verma, Vijaya Sherry Chand and Asha Kaul.
Gupta said, "At the moment 90% of medicinal herbs for manufacturing AYUSH medicines are procured form the forest. It is time the country introduced farming of these medicinal plants like China is doing. With the current practice of depending on the forest with no conservation policies, the future is bleak."
The recommendations also included formation of a 'Medical Plant Corporation of India' and introduce incentives for cultivators of the medicinal plants from the farmers and a buy back policy. Talking about the loopholes in the current scenario Gupta said, "The farmers who cultivate the herbal plants themselves are facing problems while transporting their harvest as they are confused with forest products. This problem should be corrected."
Other suggestions that pointed towards china also included the need of laying keen focus on scientific validation of AYUSH medicines. The recommendation indicated that the Chinese herbal medicines have gained international popularity because of scientific validation and AYUSH also take the process seriously. Gupta said, "At the rate at which the validation of these medicines is going on in this country, which is very slow, it will take more than a century to complete."
Link: Original Article
After IIM-A was recently entrusted with the task of drawing the recommendations by AYUSH, the institute charted the recommendations by hosting a three-tier set of programmes which were attended by top level managers, professors, doctors, researchers and field workers. With suggestions from the participants, the recommendations were put together by the members of faculty of IIM-A including Anil Gupta, Mukul Dixit, Sanjay Verma, Vijaya Sherry Chand and Asha Kaul.
Gupta said, "At the moment 90% of medicinal herbs for manufacturing AYUSH medicines are procured form the forest. It is time the country introduced farming of these medicinal plants like China is doing. With the current practice of depending on the forest with no conservation policies, the future is bleak."
The recommendations also included formation of a 'Medical Plant Corporation of India' and introduce incentives for cultivators of the medicinal plants from the farmers and a buy back policy. Talking about the loopholes in the current scenario Gupta said, "The farmers who cultivate the herbal plants themselves are facing problems while transporting their harvest as they are confused with forest products. This problem should be corrected."
Other suggestions that pointed towards china also included the need of laying keen focus on scientific validation of AYUSH medicines. The recommendation indicated that the Chinese herbal medicines have gained international popularity because of scientific validation and AYUSH also take the process seriously. Gupta said, "At the rate at which the validation of these medicines is going on in this country, which is very slow, it will take more than a century to complete."
Link: Original Article
Selasa, 26 Juli 2011
Medical council wants Drugs Act repealed
The Tamil Nadu State Medical Council has asked the government to repeal the amendment to the rule under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which enabled practitioners of traditional medicine to prescribe allopathic drugs. They have also urged the health department to withdraw the government order issued on June 29, 2010 permitting traditional practitioners to perform surgeries, practise obstetrics-gynaecology, anaesthesiology, ENT and ophthalmology.
Council president Dr K Prakasam met health secretary Girija Vaidhayanathan with a representation on Tuesday. "Will government hospitals allow traditional practitioners to administer anesthesia and do surgeries? If the government doesn't, why should a private hospital be allowed to follow it," said Dr Prakasam. For almost a year, the council and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have said that by allowing such practitioners to do allopathy the government was legalizing quackery.
On June 2, 2010, IMA submitted a list of 2,000 quacks to the state police, which included names of traditional medical practitioners prescribing allopathic drugs. This was followed by a series of arrests. Traditional medical practitioners argued with the state government that they spent considerable time learning modern pharmacology in colleges and hence should be permitted to prescribe them. Unani specialist Dr Shaikh Shahul Hameed said that since the state medical university prescribed it in the syllabus, they should be allowed to practice.
On June 29, the government issued orders allowing them to practice modern medicine.' The government cited section 17(3) B of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970, which said institutionally qualified practitioners of siddha, ayurveda, unani and homoeopathy are eligible to practise the respective system with modern scientific medicine "including surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesiology and ENT based on the training and teaching." The state government further stepped up its support for government doctors by amending the rules for the Drugs Act by redefining a 'registered medical practitioner'. Practitioners of alternative Indian systems were considered as those 'practising the modern scientific system of medicine' for the purposes of enforcing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. "The decision was based on detailed investigation and debate. And it has been a landmark one. We ensure students are taught by experts," Dr Hameed said.
But allopathic doctors associations argued that a few hours of study would not match they four-and-a-half training in medicine. The doctors' associations managed to obtain a stay in the court. The medical university has also threatened to withdraw allopathic content from siddha, unani, ayurveda and homeopathy syllabus. "We don't want to endanger lives of human beings. But the order still stays. We want it to be withdrawn," he said.
Link: Original Article
Council president Dr K Prakasam met health secretary Girija Vaidhayanathan with a representation on Tuesday. "Will government hospitals allow traditional practitioners to administer anesthesia and do surgeries? If the government doesn't, why should a private hospital be allowed to follow it," said Dr Prakasam. For almost a year, the council and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have said that by allowing such practitioners to do allopathy the government was legalizing quackery.
On June 2, 2010, IMA submitted a list of 2,000 quacks to the state police, which included names of traditional medical practitioners prescribing allopathic drugs. This was followed by a series of arrests. Traditional medical practitioners argued with the state government that they spent considerable time learning modern pharmacology in colleges and hence should be permitted to prescribe them. Unani specialist Dr Shaikh Shahul Hameed said that since the state medical university prescribed it in the syllabus, they should be allowed to practice.
On June 29, the government issued orders allowing them to practice modern medicine.' The government cited section 17(3) B of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970, which said institutionally qualified practitioners of siddha, ayurveda, unani and homoeopathy are eligible to practise the respective system with modern scientific medicine "including surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesiology and ENT based on the training and teaching." The state government further stepped up its support for government doctors by amending the rules for the Drugs Act by redefining a 'registered medical practitioner'. Practitioners of alternative Indian systems were considered as those 'practising the modern scientific system of medicine' for the purposes of enforcing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. "The decision was based on detailed investigation and debate. And it has been a landmark one. We ensure students are taught by experts," Dr Hameed said.
But allopathic doctors associations argued that a few hours of study would not match they four-and-a-half training in medicine. The doctors' associations managed to obtain a stay in the court. The medical university has also threatened to withdraw allopathic content from siddha, unani, ayurveda and homeopathy syllabus. "We don't want to endanger lives of human beings. But the order still stays. We want it to be withdrawn," he said.
Link: Original Article
Selasa, 12 Juli 2011
Health Ministry ropes in IIM-A to promote AYUSH
The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is drawing up recommendations for the Union Health Ministry on how can AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) medicines be promoted better in the country. IIM-A has been entrusted with the task by the Department of AYUSH.
IIM-A professor Anil K Gupta said that currently AYUSH makes up barely 0.4 per cent of the total healthcare system in India, so the aim is to integrate AYUSH systems among themselves and also with allopathic medicine.
“AYUSH has not been able to reach people in rural and urban areas. It is an affordable medical system for the rural and urban poor. Even for the affluent it is a preventive system that is greatly useful because it targets lifestyle, food, mental health and overall well-being,” he said.
The recommendations will be finalised after a three-tier set of programmes concludes. At present, the third set of dignitaries, including doctors, researchers and field workers, is attending a five-day programme at the institute.
The first and second set made up of officials, policy-makers and institution heads have been concluded.
Dr C H Raveendar, assistant director-in-charge of the Regional Research Institute (Homoeo) at Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, said the participants and IIM-A faculty are sharing experiences to find a way to boost the AYUSH systems.
Several research findings have been presented in the course of the programmes and IIM-A faculty have also looked at the management aspects.
Link: Original Article
IIM-A professor Anil K Gupta said that currently AYUSH makes up barely 0.4 per cent of the total healthcare system in India, so the aim is to integrate AYUSH systems among themselves and also with allopathic medicine.
“AYUSH has not been able to reach people in rural and urban areas. It is an affordable medical system for the rural and urban poor. Even for the affluent it is a preventive system that is greatly useful because it targets lifestyle, food, mental health and overall well-being,” he said.
The recommendations will be finalised after a three-tier set of programmes concludes. At present, the third set of dignitaries, including doctors, researchers and field workers, is attending a five-day programme at the institute.
The first and second set made up of officials, policy-makers and institution heads have been concluded.
Dr C H Raveendar, assistant director-in-charge of the Regional Research Institute (Homoeo) at Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, said the participants and IIM-A faculty are sharing experiences to find a way to boost the AYUSH systems.
Several research findings have been presented in the course of the programmes and IIM-A faculty have also looked at the management aspects.
Link: Original Article
Selasa, 05 Juli 2011
EU bans Ayurvedic drugs
Says Dr. Ajay Kumar , Past National President, Indian Medical Association & Member of Council of World Medical Association ( WMA) "Countries that are producing such indigenous medicines and they have got indigenous cures if we properly standardize them, we can argue in favour of them. We can produce a strong lobby and go into the global market.
This ban will cause a ripple of unease in parts of the consumer and practitioner community.
It is not just going to affect the trading and international business but it will be a shock to the westerners who are getting relieved from this treatment modality.
Adding further, Kumar says "Companies like Dabur, Himalaya and Divya Yoga are producing many good products and should be promoted through qualified people, they should stand together and we will support them."
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and commerce are acting together to challenge EU herb directive in a legal way. Documentation is under process and a legal agency has been hired to prove that this directive is "Unnecessary Trade Barrier".
European consumers will not be able to use most of the ayurvedic products when a European law will be implemented at its fullest on May 01, 2011. A European directive "The European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (THMPD)" was introduced as a response to growing concern over adverse effects of such alternative medicines.
This new legislation claims to put consumer's safety first by banning the ayurvedic and other herbal products in Europe. European directive denigrates the practice of ayurveda which has been practiced by Indians for hundreds of years and it is not just confined to India as it is being practiced by other parts of the world also.
Choice of treatment modality should be left upto the individual's will as such ban is a direct attack on their right to health. Ayurvedic treatment is well known for its action against chronic and intractable medical conditions without side effects.
Says Dr. Partap Chauhan, Director, JIVA Ayurveda "By implementing THMPD, the European Union (EU) is denying its citizens access to most ancient healing science (Ayurveda), which has helped millions of EU over past few decades, even in the most chronic disorders where modern medicine fails to show results".
Ayurvedic products have been used in India for hundreds of years, and are both safe and efficacious, and have also been accepted around the globe. Considering any treatment modality alternative is just a perception. Before the emergence of standard treatment modality, Ayurveda employed as a full fledged treatment modality with optimum healing outcomes.
Chauhan says: "To us Western medicine is the alternative medicine. Modern diagnostic methods and emergency treatment procedures are supplement to Ayurveda, which has better treatments for eradicating the root cause of disease It is time the EU recognizes the benefits of Ayurveda and other traditional herbal medicines and use it for the benefit of its citizens."
After implementation of this directive, consumer will only have access to the treatments based on pharmaceutical drugs. This directive infringes ability of consumers to prevent and treat illness in ways that they find pertinence-in. This directive has been cleverly cloaked as issues of "public safety".
Consumers of such medicines have called the EU directive, called as The Traditional herbal Medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC, "discriminatory and disproportionate." This is the right time when India should knock the door of WTO against EU herbal drug order.
Link: Original Article
This ban will cause a ripple of unease in parts of the consumer and practitioner community.
It is not just going to affect the trading and international business but it will be a shock to the westerners who are getting relieved from this treatment modality.
Adding further, Kumar says "Companies like Dabur, Himalaya and Divya Yoga are producing many good products and should be promoted through qualified people, they should stand together and we will support them."
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and commerce are acting together to challenge EU herb directive in a legal way. Documentation is under process and a legal agency has been hired to prove that this directive is "Unnecessary Trade Barrier".
European consumers will not be able to use most of the ayurvedic products when a European law will be implemented at its fullest on May 01, 2011. A European directive "The European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (THMPD)" was introduced as a response to growing concern over adverse effects of such alternative medicines.
This new legislation claims to put consumer's safety first by banning the ayurvedic and other herbal products in Europe. European directive denigrates the practice of ayurveda which has been practiced by Indians for hundreds of years and it is not just confined to India as it is being practiced by other parts of the world also.
Choice of treatment modality should be left upto the individual's will as such ban is a direct attack on their right to health. Ayurvedic treatment is well known for its action against chronic and intractable medical conditions without side effects.
Says Dr. Partap Chauhan, Director, JIVA Ayurveda "By implementing THMPD, the European Union (EU) is denying its citizens access to most ancient healing science (Ayurveda), which has helped millions of EU over past few decades, even in the most chronic disorders where modern medicine fails to show results".
Ayurvedic products have been used in India for hundreds of years, and are both safe and efficacious, and have also been accepted around the globe. Considering any treatment modality alternative is just a perception. Before the emergence of standard treatment modality, Ayurveda employed as a full fledged treatment modality with optimum healing outcomes.
Chauhan says: "To us Western medicine is the alternative medicine. Modern diagnostic methods and emergency treatment procedures are supplement to Ayurveda, which has better treatments for eradicating the root cause of disease It is time the EU recognizes the benefits of Ayurveda and other traditional herbal medicines and use it for the benefit of its citizens."
After implementation of this directive, consumer will only have access to the treatments based on pharmaceutical drugs. This directive infringes ability of consumers to prevent and treat illness in ways that they find pertinence-in. This directive has been cleverly cloaked as issues of "public safety".
Consumers of such medicines have called the EU directive, called as The Traditional herbal Medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC, "discriminatory and disproportionate." This is the right time when India should knock the door of WTO against EU herbal drug order.
Link: Original Article
Rabu, 09 Maret 2011
Indian medicine doctors can practise allopathy
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday said the police cannot be allowed to proceed against doctors practising under the Indian Medicine system prescribing allopathic drugs.
In his order on a batch of petitions, Justice K.Chandru said at no point of time a person who is having a valid degree and having registered under an enactment could be directed to be proceeded against by the police by registering a criminal case against him and that too at the instance of an association such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which was not even a statutory body. It was a mere association of doctors practising allopathy.
In its petition, the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Graduates Association sought to forbear the authorities from interfering with the professional practice of its members and from taking action in the name of anti-quackery action against them, who were practising their profession as per the Central Council of Indian Medicine's rules and the Indian Medical Degrees (Madras Amendment) Act.
Mr.Justice Chandru referred to a State Government order of September 2010 and said it was the statutory order that took out the taboo of such of those Indian Medicine doctors prescribing even allopathy medicine.
There was a misconception about doctors who were qualified under the Indian Medicine and having valid degree as well as registration under the statutory council being dealt with by the police solely at the instance of the IMA and treating them as criminals. “If allowed, it would certainly bring disrepute to them in the eye of public and will make it appear that the system of Indian Medicine comprises only quacks or non-professionals.” The merits and demerits of each system had to be scientifically established.
Ultimately, it was for the people to opt for a particular system of medicine. The court's legal interpretation ultimately guided to deal with complaints of malpractices. “But, certainly, the police cannot be allowed to take an initiative in such matters.”
Quoting a Supreme Court order, the Judge said no blanket permission could be issued to the police to arrest the so-called quacks identified by the IMA. If the IMA as a guild association of allopathic medical practitioners was aggrieved by any misconduct committed by other medical professionals governed by other systems of medicine, it could complain to their professional bodies under which those professionals were registered and could find remedies. Only in case where it was able to establish that there were persons masquerading as doctors, then the question of pressing into service the Anti-Quackery Act would come into play.
Link: Original Article
In his order on a batch of petitions, Justice K.Chandru said at no point of time a person who is having a valid degree and having registered under an enactment could be directed to be proceeded against by the police by registering a criminal case against him and that too at the instance of an association such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which was not even a statutory body. It was a mere association of doctors practising allopathy.
In its petition, the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Graduates Association sought to forbear the authorities from interfering with the professional practice of its members and from taking action in the name of anti-quackery action against them, who were practising their profession as per the Central Council of Indian Medicine's rules and the Indian Medical Degrees (Madras Amendment) Act.
Mr.Justice Chandru referred to a State Government order of September 2010 and said it was the statutory order that took out the taboo of such of those Indian Medicine doctors prescribing even allopathy medicine.
There was a misconception about doctors who were qualified under the Indian Medicine and having valid degree as well as registration under the statutory council being dealt with by the police solely at the instance of the IMA and treating them as criminals. “If allowed, it would certainly bring disrepute to them in the eye of public and will make it appear that the system of Indian Medicine comprises only quacks or non-professionals.” The merits and demerits of each system had to be scientifically established.
Ultimately, it was for the people to opt for a particular system of medicine. The court's legal interpretation ultimately guided to deal with complaints of malpractices. “But, certainly, the police cannot be allowed to take an initiative in such matters.”
Quoting a Supreme Court order, the Judge said no blanket permission could be issued to the police to arrest the so-called quacks identified by the IMA. If the IMA as a guild association of allopathic medical practitioners was aggrieved by any misconduct committed by other medical professionals governed by other systems of medicine, it could complain to their professional bodies under which those professionals were registered and could find remedies. Only in case where it was able to establish that there were persons masquerading as doctors, then the question of pressing into service the Anti-Quackery Act would come into play.
Link: Original Article
Sabtu, 29 Januari 2011
Hundreds of herbal medicines to be banned in UK next year
As new European regulations come into force, hundreds of herbal medicines, except for a small number of popular products for 'mild' illness, will be banned from being sold in Britain next year.
With just four months to go before the ban is put in place, thousands of patients are set to lose access to herbal remedies that have been used in the UK for years, reports the Daily Mail.
From May 1 2011, traditional herbal products need to be licensed or prescribed by a registered herbal practitioner to comply with an EU directive. The directive was introduced due to rising concerns over adverse effects caused by many alternative medicines.
This means almost 2,500 qualified UK herbalists and Chinese medicine practitioners will lose the right to supply a wide range of herbal medicines, because they are not signed up to the statutory regulation scheme.
Herbal practitioners have said that the cost of obtaining licenses was beyond their means.
Many traditional medicines are made up of a number of herbs and the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) estimates the cost of obtaining a license at 100,000 pounds per herb.
According to ANH, no Chinese or ayurvedic medicine has been licensed.
But herbal practitioners have warned that patients may end up buying potentially dangerous supplies from the black market.
Link: Original Article
With just four months to go before the ban is put in place, thousands of patients are set to lose access to herbal remedies that have been used in the UK for years, reports the Daily Mail.
From May 1 2011, traditional herbal products need to be licensed or prescribed by a registered herbal practitioner to comply with an EU directive. The directive was introduced due to rising concerns over adverse effects caused by many alternative medicines.
This means almost 2,500 qualified UK herbalists and Chinese medicine practitioners will lose the right to supply a wide range of herbal medicines, because they are not signed up to the statutory regulation scheme.
Herbal practitioners have said that the cost of obtaining licenses was beyond their means.
Many traditional medicines are made up of a number of herbs and the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) estimates the cost of obtaining a license at 100,000 pounds per herb.
According to ANH, no Chinese or ayurvedic medicine has been licensed.
But herbal practitioners have warned that patients may end up buying potentially dangerous supplies from the black market.
Link: Original Article
Minggu, 19 Desember 2010
MCI relief for integrated medicine practitioners in Maharashtra
The controversy over a letter purportedly written by the Medical Council of India (MCI) asking the state governments to take action under the anti-quackery provision against doctors, who offer integrated medicine, has finally been settled with the MCI clarifying that it never issued such a letter.
Integrated medicine refers to the treatment method that combines traditional Indian systems of medicine (ISM) like ayurveda, unani and siddha, with modern allopathy to cure patients. While ayurveda, unani and siddha fall under the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), allopathy practice is governed by the MCI.
Over 7 lakh integrated medicine practitioners in the country were up in arms over the MCI letter' (dated August 10, 2010) as some state governments, including the administrations in some districts of Maharashtra, had started acting on the letter and taking action against them.
The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA), which is a body of ayurveda and unani practitioners, had taken up the cause of these doctors and was pursuing the matter with the MCI as well as the CCIM authorities in New Delhi.
The association's prime case was that ISM doctors are institutionally qualified graduates and post-graduates trained in all branches of medicine. The practice is well supported by government resolutions (GRs) issued in 1992 and 1999 under the acts governed by the central and the state councils.
The NIMA had challenged the veracity of the MCI letter' on the grounds that it was full of factual as well as grammatical errors. "It (the letter) appeared to be a case of gross misuse of the MCI letterhead by elements opposed to the Indian systems of medicine," NIMA secretary general V D Tembhurnikar told TOI.
The letter dated August 10 purportedly signed by MCI secretary Lt Col (Retd) A R N Setalvad and addressed to the health secretaries, health directors, district magistrates and superintendent of police of all the states referred to doctors offering integrated medicine as "quacks" and called for a check on them by way of steps like enlisting such medical practitioners, checking their qualifications, status of enrolment for practice of medical profession, etc.
"What was a matter of greater concern for us is that the administration in certain districts like Solapur, Beed, Parbhani and Hingoli had started acting on the basis of this dubious letter, without verifying whether it has indeed been issued by the MCI," said Tembhurnikar. Similar action was also reported by NIMA members from other states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
On Monday, NIMA officials called a press conference to release the MCI's letter clarifying its position on the issue. They also appealed to the state governments to take note of the MCI position and stop acting against integrated medicine practitioners.
In its letter addressed to the CCIM on November 16, MCI deputy secretary Reena Mayyar has stated: "I am to inform you (CCIM secretary) that as per record available, the Council has not issued circular no MCI/Circular/10/1116-31-32/Anti-Quackery/2010 dated August 10, 2010."
Consequently, the CCIM has issued a letter to the health secretaries as well as health directorates, district magistrates and district superintendents of police of all the state governments, appealing to them not to take note of the dubious MCI letter of August 10' and should not act against integrated medical practitioners.
Link: Original Article
Integrated medicine refers to the treatment method that combines traditional Indian systems of medicine (ISM) like ayurveda, unani and siddha, with modern allopathy to cure patients. While ayurveda, unani and siddha fall under the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), allopathy practice is governed by the MCI.
Over 7 lakh integrated medicine practitioners in the country were up in arms over the MCI letter' (dated August 10, 2010) as some state governments, including the administrations in some districts of Maharashtra, had started acting on the letter and taking action against them.
The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA), which is a body of ayurveda and unani practitioners, had taken up the cause of these doctors and was pursuing the matter with the MCI as well as the CCIM authorities in New Delhi.
The association's prime case was that ISM doctors are institutionally qualified graduates and post-graduates trained in all branches of medicine. The practice is well supported by government resolutions (GRs) issued in 1992 and 1999 under the acts governed by the central and the state councils.
The NIMA had challenged the veracity of the MCI letter' on the grounds that it was full of factual as well as grammatical errors. "It (the letter) appeared to be a case of gross misuse of the MCI letterhead by elements opposed to the Indian systems of medicine," NIMA secretary general V D Tembhurnikar told TOI.
The letter dated August 10 purportedly signed by MCI secretary Lt Col (Retd) A R N Setalvad and addressed to the health secretaries, health directors, district magistrates and superintendent of police of all the states referred to doctors offering integrated medicine as "quacks" and called for a check on them by way of steps like enlisting such medical practitioners, checking their qualifications, status of enrolment for practice of medical profession, etc.
"What was a matter of greater concern for us is that the administration in certain districts like Solapur, Beed, Parbhani and Hingoli had started acting on the basis of this dubious letter, without verifying whether it has indeed been issued by the MCI," said Tembhurnikar. Similar action was also reported by NIMA members from other states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
On Monday, NIMA officials called a press conference to release the MCI's letter clarifying its position on the issue. They also appealed to the state governments to take note of the MCI position and stop acting against integrated medicine practitioners.
In its letter addressed to the CCIM on November 16, MCI deputy secretary Reena Mayyar has stated: "I am to inform you (CCIM secretary) that as per record available, the Council has not issued circular no MCI/Circular/10/1116-31-32/Anti-Quackery/2010 dated August 10, 2010."
Consequently, the CCIM has issued a letter to the health secretaries as well as health directorates, district magistrates and district superintendents of police of all the state governments, appealing to them not to take note of the dubious MCI letter of August 10' and should not act against integrated medical practitioners.
Link: Original Article
Jumat, 19 November 2010
Keep off Siddha docs practising allopathy , HC tells police
The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has quashed criminal cases filed against seven Siddha doctors for practising allopathy and observed that the police should not interfere in such matters, as it would demoralise the qualified practitioners of the Indian Systems of Medicine.
Allowing petitions filed by S Arockia Varghese, M Ravindran, A Nagarajan, G Suresh Khanna and Porkodi of Tirunelveli district and A Ganeshamoorthy and S Valli of Dindigul district, Justice G Rajasuria said the police cannot interfere in such matters, as it affects the morale of qualified Siddha doctors. If any person was affected by the practice of allopathy by these Siddha doctors, they would have to petition the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council or the Director of Public Health.
He also said the government order of September 8 stated that institutionally qualified practitioners of the Indian Systems of Medicine such as Siddha, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani were eligible to practise modern scientific medicine based on their training and teaching. Following this, the DGP issued a circular to the police commissioners, inspector-generals of police and superintendents of police directing them not to interfere with the practice of registered doctors of Indian medicine.
The judge said the police should not interfere in such cases, even if complaints in this regard are received from the public against Siddha practitioners with a BSMS degree (Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery).
The high cout order is in line with the recent trend of protecting qualified practitioners of Indian medicine systems from legal action for prescribing allopathic drugs. In September, the state government issued a notification amending a rule under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act defining a 'registered medical practitioner'. By this, the government will treat practitioners of alternative Indian systems, including siddha, as persons practising the modern scientific system of medicine' for the purposes of enforcing the drugs and cosmetics law. It was aimed at ensuring that siddha, ayurveda and unani practitioners face no proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for prescribing or storing allopathic medicines.
The Indian Medical Association's Tamil Nadu chapter has said it will to challenge the new rule.
Last July, the Madras high court ruled that registered practitioners of Indian systems were eligible to practise surgery. "It is imperative that no proceedings can be initiated against any of those registered practitioners in siddha, ayurveda, homoeopathy and unani, who are eligible to practise their respective system, along with modern scientific medicine, including surgery," the court had said.
Link: Original Article
Allowing petitions filed by S Arockia Varghese, M Ravindran, A Nagarajan, G Suresh Khanna and Porkodi of Tirunelveli district and A Ganeshamoorthy and S Valli of Dindigul district, Justice G Rajasuria said the police cannot interfere in such matters, as it affects the morale of qualified Siddha doctors. If any person was affected by the practice of allopathy by these Siddha doctors, they would have to petition the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council or the Director of Public Health.
He also said the government order of September 8 stated that institutionally qualified practitioners of the Indian Systems of Medicine such as Siddha, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani were eligible to practise modern scientific medicine based on their training and teaching. Following this, the DGP issued a circular to the police commissioners, inspector-generals of police and superintendents of police directing them not to interfere with the practice of registered doctors of Indian medicine.
The judge said the police should not interfere in such cases, even if complaints in this regard are received from the public against Siddha practitioners with a BSMS degree (Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery).
The high cout order is in line with the recent trend of protecting qualified practitioners of Indian medicine systems from legal action for prescribing allopathic drugs. In September, the state government issued a notification amending a rule under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act defining a 'registered medical practitioner'. By this, the government will treat practitioners of alternative Indian systems, including siddha, as persons practising the modern scientific system of medicine' for the purposes of enforcing the drugs and cosmetics law. It was aimed at ensuring that siddha, ayurveda and unani practitioners face no proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for prescribing or storing allopathic medicines.
The Indian Medical Association's Tamil Nadu chapter has said it will to challenge the new rule.
Last July, the Madras high court ruled that registered practitioners of Indian systems were eligible to practise surgery. "It is imperative that no proceedings can be initiated against any of those registered practitioners in siddha, ayurveda, homoeopathy and unani, who are eligible to practise their respective system, along with modern scientific medicine, including surgery," the court had said.
Link: Original Article
Senin, 08 November 2010
Health cover may include ayurveda, unani, siddha
A panel formed by the insurance council will probably recommend that domestic healthcare systems such as ayurveda , unani and siddha should be treated on par with allopathy when it comes to medical insurance, said a person familiar with the committee’s thinking.
“The department of Ayush has approached the General Insurance Council for looking at the possibility of accepting claims under the non-allopathic means of treatment,” said a person familiar with the development at the Council. “They made a presentation to council members, who in turn, have formed a three-member committee to look into the matter.”
The committee comprises chief executive officers from Star Health, Max Bupa and Apollo, the person said. It would examine the merits and demerits of the proposal and recommend processes to implement if it is convinced that these types of medicines should also be covered under health insurance. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority will take a call on the issue.
A large section of India’s more than a hundred crore population takes alternative means of treatment which is recognised by the government, but not so far by the insurance industry. Insurers where most of them are in a joint venture with a global company, say there is not an established way to verify these claims and no data to rely on.
“Under allopathic means of treatment, there are scientific studies and we know how long a treatment will take, how much will it cost,’’ said TA Ramalingam, head of underwriting, Bajaj Allianz General Life Insurance.
“But under the alternative means like homeopathy, we do not have enough data to cover them. For example, curing an ailment under homeopathy may take years, we would not have a structured way of looking at data. But under allopathic means of treatment, it’s more immediate, and hence, easily manageable.”
There is no registration for practitioners of alternate means of treatment either. There is no one body that recognises the institutes/hospitals that treat patients.
But the health and family welfare ministry is pushing hard for it as it is affordable and the majority of the population makes use of the domestic expertise in these areas. Allopathic medicines are expensive even for those who are in urban centres.
The Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy was created in March 1995 and re-named as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, or Ayush, in November 2003 to develop education & research in those fields.
Link: Original Article
“The department of Ayush has approached the General Insurance Council for looking at the possibility of accepting claims under the non-allopathic means of treatment,” said a person familiar with the development at the Council. “They made a presentation to council members, who in turn, have formed a three-member committee to look into the matter.”
The committee comprises chief executive officers from Star Health, Max Bupa and Apollo, the person said. It would examine the merits and demerits of the proposal and recommend processes to implement if it is convinced that these types of medicines should also be covered under health insurance. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority will take a call on the issue.
A large section of India’s more than a hundred crore population takes alternative means of treatment which is recognised by the government, but not so far by the insurance industry. Insurers where most of them are in a joint venture with a global company, say there is not an established way to verify these claims and no data to rely on.
“Under allopathic means of treatment, there are scientific studies and we know how long a treatment will take, how much will it cost,’’ said TA Ramalingam, head of underwriting, Bajaj Allianz General Life Insurance.
“But under the alternative means like homeopathy, we do not have enough data to cover them. For example, curing an ailment under homeopathy may take years, we would not have a structured way of looking at data. But under allopathic means of treatment, it’s more immediate, and hence, easily manageable.”
There is no registration for practitioners of alternate means of treatment either. There is no one body that recognises the institutes/hospitals that treat patients.
But the health and family welfare ministry is pushing hard for it as it is affordable and the majority of the population makes use of the domestic expertise in these areas. Allopathic medicines are expensive even for those who are in urban centres.
The Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy was created in March 1995 and re-named as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, or Ayush, in November 2003 to develop education & research in those fields.
Link: Original Article
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