AYUSHman Bhava - Is Crosspathy A Blessing In Disguise For The Indian Health System ?
'They all started together with the aim of cracking PMT (Pre Medical Test), they studied together, even went to the same coaching institute. Every one was a MBBS aspirant and loved to be called one. Then, the moment of truth happened and some got admission in MBBS while others opted for alternate systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Homeopathy or Unani.'
This summarizes the entry of medical students in the various systems of medicine in India.
The ultimate aim of any system of medicine is to cure illness. But for getting to a remedy, one needs to understand the root cause of the problem and for apprehending the problem, one needs to understand the normal functioning of the body. This is what forms the basis of the curriculum for every system of medicine.
While the physiology and pathology of human body is constant and has to be taught alike in every course, it is the cure that is based on different principles and beliefs and this is what segregates different systems of medicine.
Allopathy prefers the use of pharmacologically active agents to treat or suppress symptoms while Ayurvedic therapies are typically based on complex herbal compounds, in which a person is seen as a unique individual made up of five primary elements. Homeopathy, on the other hand, stimulates the body's self-regulating mechanisms to initiate the healing process.
Amongst the western countries, Australia is the only country where Ayurveda is recognized as a bonafide system of medicine while Homeopathy has a legal standing equivalent to conventional medicine only in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Most of the western countries consider Ayurvedic and Homeopathic systems as 'Pseudomedicines' or medicines which claim to be effective for treating specific medical conditions, but the mainstream scientific opinion is that they will not prove to be effective.
So, what is the status of these alternative medicines in India. Well, India boasts of recognizing all the systems of medicine and even has a ministry dedicated for the same known as the Ministry of AYUSH.
As per a report presented in Rajya Sabha in 2015, by the same ministry, there are about 7.37 lakh practitioners of alternative medicine in the country with Ayurveda practitioners numbering 3.99 lakh and Homeopathic practitioners amounting to 2.8 lakh. For every Allopath who signs up with his/her respective medical council there are nearly 13 Ayurveds and 7 Homeopaths who register at the same time. Of the seven lakh doctors who register on an average in India every year, only 3-4% are Allopaths. Ayurveds and Homeopaths make up the largest chunk. (Source)
So, deducing from the numbers, one may think that Indians are a big fan of alternative systems and Ayurvedic, Homeopathic doctors are highly celebrated in the country.
But, the reality is quite opposite. Sales of allopathic medicines far outstrip the sale of other medicines in spite of Allopathic doctors, constituting a small portion of the system.
But, how's it possible?
Well, this has been turned into reality by the efforts of the governments of about 14 states in the country including Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Prardesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand where the practice of integrated medicine has been legalized. Not to forget the contributions of other states which have no stand/opinion on this matter, thus acting as a blessing in disguise for these doctors.
Where the MBBS doctors fail/refuse to go citing valid/invalid reasons, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic doctors register a phenomenal presence. They can be found in every village, town or colony of metro city. Located in small handy clinics, they are the choice of every middle class Indian after their favourite chemist 'uncle' (whose only qualification is that he knows where the medicines are kept) and before going to a superspecialty hospital ( which are losing their credibilty slowly). This hierarchy of preference is based on easy accessibilty and the medical expenses.
But, what is the qualification of these Ayurveds and Homeopaths in Allopathy?
Well, someone rightly stated that 'Experience is the best teacher' and their only certificate for practicing Allopathy is the experience that they gain through an internship under a MBBS/MD doctor.
After years of clinical practice in integrated medicine, these doctors gain more knowledge and command in the subject as compared to a fresh MBBS graduate !
Let's talk about the role of government now. What the government has in hands is a small no. of MBBS doctors reluctant to serve in rural areas, a large chunk of BAMS/BHMS doctors already practicing Allopathy in the villages, fresh Ayurvedic/Homeopathic graduates eager to practice Allopathy and a country with its 70% population living in the villages.
So, what can a government do in this situation? Well, the choices are quite limited. Either the government can force these disinterested MBBS graduates to work in villages where their attendance would be an issue or it can empower the BAMS/BHMS graduates, which are quite large in number, by allowing them to practice Allopathy, after a bridge course, thus enabling these doctors to cater to the basic medical needs of 70% population.
Well, the latter seems quite an efficient option, both in terms of time and money consumed.
A prevalent misunderstanding is that these doctors will get the status of a MBBS doctor but the fact is that they will be allowed to prescribe for preliminary diseases only that can be treated at ground level.
As the common adage goes - 'Something is better than Nothing', making the bridge course and the licentiate examination compulsory, can reduce the cases of quackery and will give these BAMS/BHMS graduates at least some formal exposure to Allopathic medicine.
The NMC bill presented in the winter session of the parliament has been a matter of discussion and the most controversial clause has been the proposal of a bridge course allowing the practice of integrated medicine/crosspathy.
The MCI and IMA have opposed this clause quite strongly. While the opposition of this clause is correct and sounds reasonable, I think that the outrage against crosspathy has come a little late, or as I should say, must have occurred a few decades ago while the crosspathy was slowly taking form and coming into existence.
Maybe, a protest at that time would have even helped to strengthen the other systems of medicine in India.
Protesting against the integrated medicine now, is like crying over a spilled milk. Crosspathy is not an option now but a necessity and it is one of the major factors that is responsible for the current status of health system in India.
NMC bill has been referred to a standing committee now. Whether this bill will pass the test of democracy and come into existence is a thing to watch for in the near future but the current situation is that nearly 7 lakh graduates in alternative medicine are practicing Allopathy in their clinics and it seems beyond the bounds of possibility that this scenario will change anytime soon.
This summarizes the entry of medical students in the various systems of medicine in India.
The ultimate aim of any system of medicine is to cure illness. But for getting to a remedy, one needs to understand the root cause of the problem and for apprehending the problem, one needs to understand the normal functioning of the body. This is what forms the basis of the curriculum for every system of medicine.
While the physiology and pathology of human body is constant and has to be taught alike in every course, it is the cure that is based on different principles and beliefs and this is what segregates different systems of medicine.
Allopathy prefers the use of pharmacologically active agents to treat or suppress symptoms while Ayurvedic therapies are typically based on complex herbal compounds, in which a person is seen as a unique individual made up of five primary elements. Homeopathy, on the other hand, stimulates the body's self-regulating mechanisms to initiate the healing process.
Amongst the western countries, Australia is the only country where Ayurveda is recognized as a bonafide system of medicine while Homeopathy has a legal standing equivalent to conventional medicine only in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Most of the western countries consider Ayurvedic and Homeopathic systems as 'Pseudomedicines' or medicines which claim to be effective for treating specific medical conditions, but the mainstream scientific opinion is that they will not prove to be effective.
So, what is the status of these alternative medicines in India. Well, India boasts of recognizing all the systems of medicine and even has a ministry dedicated for the same known as the Ministry of AYUSH.
As per a report presented in Rajya Sabha in 2015, by the same ministry, there are about 7.37 lakh practitioners of alternative medicine in the country with Ayurveda practitioners numbering 3.99 lakh and Homeopathic practitioners amounting to 2.8 lakh. For every Allopath who signs up with his/her respective medical council there are nearly 13 Ayurveds and 7 Homeopaths who register at the same time. Of the seven lakh doctors who register on an average in India every year, only 3-4% are Allopaths. Ayurveds and Homeopaths make up the largest chunk. (Source)
So, deducing from the numbers, one may think that Indians are a big fan of alternative systems and Ayurvedic, Homeopathic doctors are highly celebrated in the country.
But, the reality is quite opposite. Sales of allopathic medicines far outstrip the sale of other medicines in spite of Allopathic doctors, constituting a small portion of the system.
But, how's it possible?
Well, this has been turned into reality by the efforts of the governments of about 14 states in the country including Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Prardesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand where the practice of integrated medicine has been legalized. Not to forget the contributions of other states which have no stand/opinion on this matter, thus acting as a blessing in disguise for these doctors.
Where the MBBS doctors fail/refuse to go citing valid/invalid reasons, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic doctors register a phenomenal presence. They can be found in every village, town or colony of metro city. Located in small handy clinics, they are the choice of every middle class Indian after their favourite chemist 'uncle' (whose only qualification is that he knows where the medicines are kept) and before going to a superspecialty hospital ( which are losing their credibilty slowly). This hierarchy of preference is based on easy accessibilty and the medical expenses.
But, what is the qualification of these Ayurveds and Homeopaths in Allopathy?
Well, someone rightly stated that 'Experience is the best teacher' and their only certificate for practicing Allopathy is the experience that they gain through an internship under a MBBS/MD doctor.
After years of clinical practice in integrated medicine, these doctors gain more knowledge and command in the subject as compared to a fresh MBBS graduate !
Let's talk about the role of government now. What the government has in hands is a small no. of MBBS doctors reluctant to serve in rural areas, a large chunk of BAMS/BHMS doctors already practicing Allopathy in the villages, fresh Ayurvedic/Homeopathic graduates eager to practice Allopathy and a country with its 70% population living in the villages.
So, what can a government do in this situation? Well, the choices are quite limited. Either the government can force these disinterested MBBS graduates to work in villages where their attendance would be an issue or it can empower the BAMS/BHMS graduates, which are quite large in number, by allowing them to practice Allopathy, after a bridge course, thus enabling these doctors to cater to the basic medical needs of 70% population.
Well, the latter seems quite an efficient option, both in terms of time and money consumed.
A prevalent misunderstanding is that these doctors will get the status of a MBBS doctor but the fact is that they will be allowed to prescribe for preliminary diseases only that can be treated at ground level.
As the common adage goes - 'Something is better than Nothing', making the bridge course and the licentiate examination compulsory, can reduce the cases of quackery and will give these BAMS/BHMS graduates at least some formal exposure to Allopathic medicine.
The NMC bill presented in the winter session of the parliament has been a matter of discussion and the most controversial clause has been the proposal of a bridge course allowing the practice of integrated medicine/crosspathy.
The MCI and IMA have opposed this clause quite strongly. While the opposition of this clause is correct and sounds reasonable, I think that the outrage against crosspathy has come a little late, or as I should say, must have occurred a few decades ago while the crosspathy was slowly taking form and coming into existence.
Maybe, a protest at that time would have even helped to strengthen the other systems of medicine in India.
Protesting against the integrated medicine now, is like crying over a spilled milk. Crosspathy is not an option now but a necessity and it is one of the major factors that is responsible for the current status of health system in India.
NMC bill has been referred to a standing committee now. Whether this bill will pass the test of democracy and come into existence is a thing to watch for in the near future but the current situation is that nearly 7 lakh graduates in alternative medicine are practicing Allopathy in their clinics and it seems beyond the bounds of possibility that this scenario will change anytime soon.
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