ISM needs new technology

ISM needs new technology in-depth scientific research to evolve: Experts
Our Bureau, Hyderabad PharmaBizz
Friday, July 31, 2015, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

Leading scientists and researchers from Indian System of Medicine (ISM) advocated more research to develop new technologies and procedures to find out in-depth scientific data relating to medicines of Indian system.

“We have the invaluable heritage and knowledge of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines. Only thing we need now is to dig out more authentic and scientific data to build up on evidences. This will enable us to explore more opportunities to expand our realm across the globe,” opened experts from Indian System of Medicine at the Indo-Global Summit in Hyderabad.

Dr Nishant Shukla, lecturer of Swasthavrutta SGAM, GAU, Jamnagar, said since ages India has been following the ayurvedic system of medicines and many of its medical products are even proved scientifically by the allopathic system of medicines. Talking about a recent paper by the western world about the importance of ghee in diet, Dr Nishant observed that earlier Western researchers declared taking ghee increase cholesterol in the body, but in contrast to this view a recent paper in a leading international journal has now negated it, and hailed the importance of ghee in diet, which is endorsed by Ayurveda ages ago. “This itself shows that we need to evolve our own technologies and study procedures to prove the efficacy of our medicines,” he said.

While talking to Pharmabiz, Dr RV Omkumar, scientist, department of neurobiology, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Thiruvannathapuram, said “A lot of research is being done on Indian medicines and herbal medicine. We are still in the beginning stage. In the coming days, we will definitely come up with new technologies and procedures that provides detailed scientific basis rather than relying on empirical or mere clinical observations.”

Dr Omkumar presented his paper on how the herbal extracts can stimulate the brain and help gain the memory in rats. “There is a lot of scope in the Indian system of Medicine to develop, as new technology and advancements in procedures to treat diseases evolve. Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines will not just act as complementary to the existing allopathic medicines but can also be developed into indigenous medicines to replace some of the existing allopathic which have side effects,” opined another doctor.

Retirement age of Docs to 67 years

Cabinet ups retirement age of docs to 67 years from 65
Time of India  Jul 30, 2015, 11.13 PM IST

Patna: The state cabinet on Thursday decided to extend the retirement age of all government doctors, including 'Ayush', 'ayurvedic', 'Unani' and homeopathic ones, from the existing 65 years to 67 years with immediate effect. More than 4,000 government doctors would be benefitted by this move.
Principal secretary (health) Brajesh Mehrotra said this has been done in view of the large-scale vacancy of doctors in government hospitals.
Later, principal secretary, cabinet secretariat department, Shishir Sinha said the cabinet cleared a total of 36 proposals. A zoo safari would be developed at Rajgir in Nalanda district at an estimated cost of Rs 59.64 crore. A sum of Rs 3 crore was approved for this purpose in the current fiscal year. The cabinet also approved Rs 56.16 crore for the development, upkeep and management of various parks in the state capital. A sum of Rs 15.61 crore has been approved for it in the current financial year.
The cabinet also cleared the Centre's proposal to establish a hotel management institute at Bodh Gaya at an estimated cost of Rs 14.11 crore, in which the Centre's share would be Rs 10 crore and Rs 4.11 crore would be met by the state government. The government has transferred five acres of land free of cost to the Union ministry of tourism for the establishment of the institute.
The state cabinet approved the proposal of the state home department to table the 1989 Bhagalpur communal riots inquiry report - the panel was set up under the chairmanship of retired judge N N Singh — on the table of the state legislature for the implementation of its recommendations. The report was submitted to the government on February 28, 2015.
The proposed science city in Patna would be named after Dr A P J Abdul Kalam now. The agriculture college, Kishanganj, has been renamed as Dr Kalam Agriculture College.
In a rare gesture, the cabinet observed two-minute silence as a mark of respect to former President A P J Abdul Kalam. A condolence message was read out, in which the development initiatives taken by him in Bihar were lauded. The state would continue to follow his 10 'development mantras' for the overall development of Bihar in future also.
The cabinet extended the term of judicial inquiry panel set up to probe the Naurangia police firing in West Champaran district on June 24, 2013 to January 4, 2016. Its current term was to expire on July 5, 2015. In another decision, Rs 3.35 crore was cleared for the administrative expenditure of 8398 gram kutcheries. Each gram kutchery would get Rs 4,000 in the current financial year. A grant-in-aid of Rs 2.50 crore was cleared to meet the establishment cost and other allied expenditure of the Bihar State Human Rights Commission.

Yoga in Ayush

AYUSH is more than YOGA: Secy Nilanjan Sanyal

HindustanTimes content share Meghna Chukkath, New Delhi

 28/07/2015 Call Us: +91-11-23073004, 23073042 | Mail: info@bureaucracytoday.com


The AYUSH Ministry has become a known name after its record breaking success on International Yoga Day. However the ministry is in no mood to embrace the credit of its success stating that the entire praise for the event should go to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ministry of External Affairs efforts for popularizing it outside India.

In a conversation with Bureaucracy Today the Secretary to AYUSH Ministry, Nilanjan Sanyal said that the AYUSH department came into the picture after December 14, 2014 when it was first declared by the Prime Minister. “It is only after that we conceived a plan and discussed it with the higher authority and the cabinet ministry about the general agreement and the main components of the celebration. The scale and the logistics part of it were both upgraded and started on a faster pace since April, 2015,”he adds.


A senior IAS officer of the 1979 Batch of the Odisha Cadre, Nilanjan Sanyal further tells Bureaucracy Today, “AYUSH is more than just Yoga. We want the world to know about the significance of its equally important components, including Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.”

Since the ever- increasing popularity of allopathic drugs have gained impetus the components of Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy has been on a down swing. Therefore, the Ministry of AYUSH has been decisively working on various ways to promote educational reforms as well upgrade its research sector.
Refurbishing the present state of the elements of AYUSH department, the Ministry has been rigorously engaged in advocating reforms in its educational and research segments. The senior IAS officer tells Bureaucracy Today, “We are working with the Law Ministry as well as Cabinet Ministers to carry out amendments in its present policy’s and have also recommended few newer ones which would enhance our performance further.”

mouth-watering dishes without water!

For celebrity chef Izzat Hussain, who started out life as a Unani practioner, creating food that is easy to digest and beneficial to the health of countless patrons is de rigueur. Thus, his USP is preparing mouth-watering dishes without water! Yes, you read it right, without water.mouth

"To maintain consistency in the taste of my food, I don't use water as its taste varies from region to region," the chef told IANS at an ongoing Awadhi food festival here.

So, what does he substitute water with? A variety of liquids but principally milk.

"There is a certain consistency I find in milk and that's why it's my preferred choice. It definitely enhances the overall taste. I use milk for my dishes, milk for kneading dough, cream for pickles and so on," Izzat explained.

With an enviable lineage tracing back to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last nawab of Oudh, Hussain is known the world over for his Awadhi cuisine.

"There is a strong need to keep the trust and taste of the people who come to savour authentic and healthy food," he said at the Radisson Blu hotel here.

Having practised Unani, Hussain said he gives a lot of importance to the health of his patrons. "I take great pride in creating food that is easy to digest and beneficial to one's health," he emphasised.

Asked about the idea behind the food festival, the celebrity chef said: "The concept of good food and genuine 'nawabi' cuisine is changing with every passing day. With these food festivals, I intend to keep alive the originality and heritage of these delicacies and present authentic food on the platter."

Hussain also debunked the popular belief that Mughlai food needs a lot of oil to prepare and is difficult to digest.

"People think that Mughlai food contains a lot of oil and ghee, but the fact is that these foods take much less oil to prepare compared with other dishes. In fact, it gives us an option to drain out most of the oil once the food is cooked," Hussain said.

Hussain has a unique distinction of giving to the culinary world a loaf named after him. The flat bread or chapati - named Izzat ki Roti - is made by mixing mixed-grain flour with secret Unani herbs.

Now he plans to develop a concoction of green tea and mulethi (medicinal spice liquorice) which, he said, could be a healthy alternative to normal tea and coffee.

Talking about the food festival, he said it is "one of the best" Delhi has seen in the recent past.

The lavish fare on offer at the festival includes mouth-watering reshmi galouti kebab, malai boti kebab, mutton nehari, murgh begum pasand, mutton dum biryani and murgh tursh pulao, among others for the non-vegetarians.

For vegetarians, paneer kebab, Izzati kebab, Shahi Korma, Chakundari Paneer, Kathal Stew, Kathal Biryani, and Kaju Biryani are on offer.

So, whether you are a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian, you can certainly dig in the platter on offer at the food festival and lick your fingers amid the lush ambience and strains of 'qawwali' singing in the background at the Radisson Blu hotel.
prashant.k@ians.in
IANS | New Delhi July 28, 2015 Last Updated at 11:20 IST (BusinessStandard)

Ayush clinic in Rashtrapathi Bhavan

Doctor appointed for Ayush clinic in Rashtrapathi Bhavan (SEEandSAY.in) 26.07.2015

Beltangadi: Yoga and Naturopathi unit has started to function from Saturday in Rashtrapathi Bhavan in Delhi.

Dr.Vikram Pai is officially appointed as the head of the department for the unit in Rashtrapathi Bhavan for the term of one year. Dr. Pai is born in Karkala and residing in Udupi at present. He had completed his education in SDM college Ujire.

“This is the best moment of my life. I have spent seven years of my life in Ujire. I am thankful to the Union Government” he expressed his response with the press.

Dr. Vikram will be accompanied by Dr. Vidya Saraswat from Murdabad. She too was a student of SDM college.

Dr.Veerendra Heggade’s hard work reaped its fruit

Dr.Veerendra Heggade has started the Naturopati and Yoga treatment for the first time 26 years back. Nature treatment was started 28 years ago. Now his students have made him proud by appointing as the doctors in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Udupi doc is Ayush physician at Rashtrapathi Bhavan
July 27, 2015, Udupi: DHNS (deccanherald)

An Ayurveda doctor from Udupi district has been appointed as the Yoga and Naturopathy physician at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Dr Vikram Pai, a resident of Dodannagudde, would be in charge of the newly set up Ayush Wellness Clinic at Rashtarpati Bhavan for the next one year. The division would be continued based on the benefits availed by the number of patients.

Dr Pai, who studied Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (BNYS) course in SDM, Ujire, is a native of Karkala. President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday inaugurated the new Ayush Wellness Clinic (AWC) to mark his three years in office. Dr Vikram completed his course in 2006 and worked in the Central Council for Research in Yoga.

Son of yoga teachers B C Pai and Radhika, Dr Vikram, speaking to Deccan Herald said he was happy that he was part of the team that would work at Ayush Wellness Clinic at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“It is an extremely honorable occasion as I have been considered for the employment at the Bhavan.”

He said he would work towards making the division beneficial for the people.
Dr Vikram Pai would be joined by Dr Divya Saraswat, a native of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh at the AWC. Incidentally, Divya was the student of batch 12 at SDM College for Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.

process to appoint AYUSH doctors

Govt. to start process to appoint AYUSH doctors
TheHindu 25.07.2015

The State government will start the process of appointing 650 AYUSH doctors at primary health centres by August-end and each of them will be paid a salary of Rs. 25,000, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader has said.

He told presspersons here on Friday that priority would be given to 587 AYUSH doctors, who were now working on contract basis at PHCs under the National Rural Health Mission since 2006. Finding their salary of Rs. 15,000 as meagre compared to what was being paid to those working in the department, Mr. Khader said the government had proposed to the Centre to grant money to hike it.

The Union government, however, Mr. Khader said, refused to hike it by more than 5 per cent. Instead, the Minister said, the Centre asked the State to re-advertise for 650 posts of AYUSH doctors, including the 587 existing posts, by paying them Rs. 25,000 a month. “We explained this to the protesting doctors. I have also assured them of considering their application during the fresh process of appointment,” Mr. Khader said. The protesters have withdrawn their strike, he said.

Mr. Khader said he had sought reports from district health officers evaluating the services of each of these doctors. “We will then re-advertise for 650 posts. Rules will be framed to give preference to those who have been working in the PHCs.”

Mr. Khader said his department was also working on ways to make use of the services of 67 AYUSH doctors, who had been working for the past nine years in the vacant MBBS posts.

On the allegation of AYUSH doctors that those deputed for health check-up of students under the Rashtriya Bala Swastya Yojana were not being paid Rs. 28,000, Mr. Khader said this was because of the absence of grant from the Centre.

“Though they agreed for the proposal of Rs. 28,000, the amount that was released was by calculating salary at the rate of Rs. 15,000,” he said.

cow urine for medical benefits

CSIR team testing cow urine for medical benefits, govt tells LS

Govt said CSIR has conducted research on cow urine distillate for its anti-oxidant and bio-enhancing properties on anti-infective and anti-cancer agents and nutrients.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Go Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra (GVAK) in Nagpur are conducting research on cow urine distillate to determine its anti-oxidant and other properties, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shripad Yasso Naik on Friday told the Lok Sabha in reply to an unstarred question.

“CSIR through its constituent laboratories has conducted research studies in collaboration with GVAK, Nagpur, on cow urine distillate for its anti-oxidant and bio-enhancing properties on anti-infective and anti-cancer agents and nutrients. Four US patents have been secured since 2002 and one pharmaceutical product containing cow urine distillate with anti-oxidant property is available in the market,” Naik said in a written reply to Surat BJP MP Darshana Vikram Jardosh’s question on whether the government has any proposal to develop cow urine as a medicine. Go Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra, which started in 1996, is an organisation with deep RSS roots. Among its founding fathers are Shyamji Ballal, organising secretary of VHP in Vidarbha, and veteran RSS pracharak Moropant Pingle. It aims to establish “firm scientific basis of eco-friendly cow-centred economics.” The organisation holds several patents on cow urine over its antibiotic, anti-fungal and bioenhancer effects, and over its anti-allergic, anti-infective, nutrient and anti-cancer properties, as well as its use as an anti-oxidant and one on cow urine causing apoptosis or programmed cell death. GVAK also holds a patent in China for the role of cow urine in protecting and/or repairing DNA damages. In his reply, Naik also said that the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences has conducted a national seminar on ‘Panchagavya Chikitsa’ in 2014 for its promotion and brought out a compilation of published research papers on Panchagvya and its ingredients. The published research papers on Panchagavya have been uploaded in the ‘AYUSH Research Portal’. Panchagavya is the collective name of five products obtained from cow viz milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung. “Cow urine is an ingredient of several ayurvedic formulations and also used as adjuvant with medicinal formulations and for pharmaceutical processing called shodhana (purification) and bhavana (triturition) of medicinal materials,” Naik told the Lower House

Unique protest by AYUSH doctors

‘Unique’ protest helps in fulfilling AYUSH doctors’ demands (TheHindu)
Updated: July 24, 2015 05:31 IST

Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader got a taste of his own medicine after scores of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) doctors, who were on the fourth day of their strike, took brooms and cleaned the road in front of his house.

The “unique” protest was their way of expressing opposition to the rude manner in which they were allegedly treated by the Minister during a meeting, on Wednesday.

The Minister met them on Thursday and promised a hike in their salaries following which the association called off their strike.

“When we told the Minister that our salaries are on par with the group D workers and we needed a hike in salary to support our family, the Minister asked us to quit and take up their jobs,” said Madhukar B.S., secretary of the NRHM Karnataka Ayush Doctors’ Association, said.

He added that there was a huge disparity between the pay in allopathic and AYUSH doctors. However, Mr. Khader said that the State had already recommended to the Union government to hike the salaries to Rs. 28,000, which the Centre refused.

White Coats for ?

'White coats used by doctors spread infection'
TNN | Jul 22, 2015, 03.03 PM IST  Times of India

Doctors and medical students in India should stop wearing white coats, Edmond Fernandes, a doctor from India has argued in The BMJ (formerly known as the British Medical Journal).

Fernandes, a postgraduate at Yenepoya Medical College in Mangalore, says evidence shows that long sleeved coats spread infection and lead to avoidable harm and cost to patients.

Although long sleeved white coats have traditionally been worn by doctors since the 19th century, we now know that white coats "harbour potential contaminants and contribute considerably to the burden of disease acquired in hospital by spreading infection," Fernandes writes.

He explains that in India, changing areas in hospitals are rare because of space constraints, so white coats are commonly worn by students coming from college and outside the hospital. They are also often left on chairs, tables, and in corridors.

In many cities in India some junior doctors are also now seen wearing white coats in shopping malls and cinemas too, and then they enter sterile zones in the hospital in the same attire, he adds.

"Given India's tropical climate, common sense indicates that we should discourage wearing white coats that are washed perhaps only every few weeks," he suggests.

He points out that in 2007, the United Kingdom took the landmark decision to ban long sleeved white coats - and that in 2009, the American Medical Association wanted to follow suit and dump the white coats, "but the proposal was dismissed because clinicians wanted to keep their traditional gowns."

Some may argue that white coats are a badge of honour, says Fernandes, "but they are mere symbolism and wearing them does not itself confer status or professionalism."

He believes that "dressing presentably and sporting a smile are more important than white coats" and that institutions "should give every medical student and doctor a recognisable name badge to wear."

Fernandes thinks we can do other things to reduce hospital acquired infections, such as better hand washing compliance.

"Every hospital should have a committee to check and respond to hospital acquired infections," he says. "But an easy win would be for India's ministry of health to ban doctors and medical students from wearing white coats, to reduce the harm and cost that results from hospital acquired infections."

AYUSH as a panacea for the health

Why AYUSH must go mainstream The Hindu Buisiness Line
Let’s accept that radically different therapeutic systems exist, and it is realistically possible to sync them for better health

Anyone under the impression that the oomph generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Yoga Day has fuelled the popularity of other traditional or AYUSH therapies will be disappointed to learn otherwise.

Most Indians still seek the services of private, allopathic doctors when they are unwell, confirms a recent survey by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

The majority of urban and rural respondents in the survey expressed a preference for private doctors and allopathic treatments over AYUSH remedies, reflecting the higher value attributed to modern medicine.

Nothing has changed despite Modi’s move to upgrade Indian systems of medicine by establishing a ministry for ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH) last year, and allocating ₹1,200 crore towards this end.

Taking the pulse

The new health policy pitches AYUSH as a panacea for the health problems that plague the country’s 1.2 billion people.

The potential of alternative therapies and practitioners to alleviate the human resource crisis in Indian healthcare is indeed enormous.

In March 2015, India had just over nine lakh allopathic doctors and nearly eight lakh AYUSH practitioners. Throughout the country’s history, AYUSH therapists have either outnumbered or matched MBBS doctors.

A decade ago, the ill-fated National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) — an initiative of the Centre aiming to address the health needs of the underserved rural areas — attempted to integrate AYUSH systems and facilities with the existing healthcare infrastructure, with the intention of converging different paradigms of practice.

The newly formed AYUSH ministry, however, has other ideas: to simply set up standalone AYUSH clinics alongside other departments of medicine within hospitals and promote a system of “inclusion” that enables patients to choose alternative treatments.

But how really are these disparate systems supposed to work to serve the best interests of patients, considering that no proper protocol has been established?

Complementary medicine (CM) — which includes numerous diagnostic and therapeutic methods that complement mainstream medicine — has gained acceptance universally, and AYUSH systems will realise their full potential when they become a part of mainstream medicine.

This calls for a clear establishment of the roles of AYUSH practitioners and doctors, and protocol for interactions and referrals, to facilitate a dialogue between ayurveds and allopathic doctors.

Though the National Health Policy 2015 suggests a greater integration of AYUSH with modern medicine, or “cross-pathy”, the Indian Medical Association — which represents practitioners of modern medicine — has strongly opposed this.

Get realistic

Indeed, several barriers to the integration of AYUSH with modern healthcare systems exist today, primarily the fact that practitioners of ayurveda or homoeopathy differ from allopaths in their understanding of anatomy, physiology, and disease and its treatment.

Lack of scientific validation and credible evidence of the effectiveness and safety of AYUSH therapies is another deterrent.

However, adopting the attitude that it is impossible to align such radically different therapeutic philosophies and create what is being embraced as “complementary” medicine the world over, is defeatist.

Though cross-practice is legally prohibited in India, the time has come to review the implications of this ban — the idea may have been to prevent quackery, but that is outdated today as it inhibits the possibility of integrated medical prescriptions, and limits the future of integrative medicine in the country.

Philosophically divergent systems can be brought together only when systems and their practitioners are open to learning and evolution.

This requires trust building between allopaths and practitioners of AYUSH, an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of each system, and an establishment of accountability mechanisms.

Identifying and documenting which illnesses respond best to which systems of medicine, and establishing treatment protocol, will enable us to realise the vision of integrative medicine in India.

The other ways

Various ailments respond better to alternative remedies: take the ksharasutra therapy for anorectal problems, for example.

While allopathic treatment for such problems is surgical, and associated with a risk of recurrence, the ksharasutra remedy — which involves the use of an alkaline medicated thread — is both effective and long term.

Gearing up to standardise and prove the efficacy and safety of many other such treatments is crucial.

The future of healthcare lies in effective collaboration between physicians, naturopaths, ayurvedic and homoeopathic practioners, yoga experts and massage therapists.

Though mixing modern medicine with traditional therapies is no small task, we need to prepare for an era of integrative medicine, the day our doctors give us a bunch of tulsi leaves along with a tablet of paracetamol for fever.

Adopting an “either-or” approach to healthcare, which forces people to choose between allopathic treatment and AYUSH, is doomed to failure.

It’s time for the AYUSH ministry to change its tune.

The writer is a microbiologist who specialises in writing about health issues

(This article was published on July 21, 2015)

Monitor Clinical Trials

System in Place to Monitor Clinical Trials (The New Indian Express)
By Dileep V Kumar  Published: 15th July 2015 03:08 AM    Last Updated: 15th July 2015 03:08 AM


KOCHI: Recent instances of shoddy clinical studies resulting in health issues, including casualties, have called for a mechanism to regulate the trials, which have always been a controversial subject in the country.

While such a mechanism is yet to be implemented at the national level, the decision by the State Government to entrust clinical trials and safety-related studies of ayurveda products to three ayurveda colleges has been widely welcomed.

“The decision to ensure proper clinical trials and safety-related studies of ayurveda products before granting licence is a welcome one as it will ensure that the public get quality products. The system will ensure that no compromise is made with regard to the safety/quality aspects of the products,” said Ayurveda Medical Association of India general secretary Rejith Anand. The State Government in an order dated July 2 stated that clinical studies would be conducted at VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal; Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura and Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram. The safety-related aspects of trials will be monitored by Care Keralam at Koratty, Thrissur.

Ayurveda drug controller N Vimala told ‘Express’ that the government issued the directive based on the revelations in ‘Good Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clinical Trials in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Medicines’, published recently by the Department of AYUSH.

She said the order came with additional clauses pertaining to ‘appointment of a monitoring committee, stipulation of the licence fee to be collected from firms that submit samples, fixation of remuneration, and the maximum duration of studies, among others. Meanwhile, the Ayurveda Medical Association of India has warned that care should be taken to check ayurveda products coming from the other states. “At present, the clinical and safety aspects are applicable only to products manufactured indigenously. Our plea is that products coming from the other states also be checked. Also, the three ayurveda colleges should sanction licences,” added Rejith Anand.

“The government is giving priority to the quality of medicines, and is not concerned about fixing a time-frame for clinical studies. When the clinical trial scenario witnesses a rush, we will consider the possibility of extending the number of study centres, including the private sector. The new system will bring ayurveda closer to the people,” added Nirmala.

AYUSH Doctors go on strike on 20.07.15

Indefinite Strike by AYUSH Doctors to Start From July 20 (Indian express)
By Express News Service   Published: 14th July 2015 04:50 AM   Last Updated: 14th July 2015 04:50 AM

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Ayush Doctors’ Association has announced that 589 Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) doctors serving on contract basis with over 200 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) will go on an indefinite strike from July 20.

The doctors, recruited under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), demand that their wages be increased and service regularised.

Recently, the government had announced a steep hike in the salaries of allopathy doctors.

Dr Shivalingappa, president, NRHM Karnataka Ayush Doctors’ Association, said that the salary of an allopathy doctor at the entry level was close to Rs 60,000 per month following the hike, but AYUSH doctors’ salaries still remain at Rs 15,400.

He added that the Health Minister did not address their concern and gave them false assurances, which was why the doctors had decided to protest.

“The Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of AYUSH were approached to look into the matter, but they played the blame game. While the Health Commissioner is of the opinion that the AYUSH Department is responsible for a hike in our salaries, the Ayush Director says that since we work for NRHM, the decision ought to be taken by the Health Department. Neither is looking into our problems,” he said.

The association said it had also approached the Centre and was told that any changes in the wages were to come from the state government.

Another doctor of the AYUSH medical officer rank complained that they were being treated as fillers.

“Besides treating patients at the PHCs, we are also expected to do our bit in implementing the national health programmes,” he said.

It's all work, no pay, say Ayush docs Times of India
14.07.2015
BENGALURU: "We have been used like tissue papers and mercilessly thrown in the waste bin..." This is how a few Ayush doctors described the government's alleged apathy towards them.

At a press meet here on Monday, they alleged that they haven't been provided with adequate facilities despite serving in rural parts of the state for years. They have decided to go on an indefinite protest from July 20.

The government had sought the services of Ayush doctors in 2006 as there was a shortage of MBBS doctors in public health centres (PHC). They were recruited on contract basis with a promise to make them permanent later on. "Our many pleas for increase in basic salary and other benefits like insurance cover and TA/DA allowance have fallen on deaf ears. We run 272 public health centres in north Karnataka but we still don't have a permanent job," rued BS Madhukar, Ayurveda doctor.

According to him, in the past eight years, the government has given them medicines only thrice. "These drugs last only for three months. How can we continue treating poor patients if we are not supplied with adequate medicines?" he asked.

Atmaram M Shetty, another doctor, said though the basic salary of allopathy doctors was raised to Rs 28,000, Ayush practitioners received only Rs 13,000 till 2014. "Though it was increased to Rs 15,400 this year, we are struggling to meet family expenses," he added.

"In case of emergency leave, our salary is deducted. Allopathy doctors went on a protest demanding revision in salary last year and the government immediately considered it,'' Shivalinga PPA, member of NRHM Karnataka Ayush Doctors' Association, said.

‘chota Vyapam’?

Is AMU’s med test row a ‘chota Vyapam’?

Eram Agha,TNN | Jul 9, 2015, 10.19 PM IST
ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University's fip-flop over MBBS/BDS 2015-16 entrance tests — announcement of two inquiries, date for retest and reverting to existing results — has made the Teachers' Association (AMUTA) smell a rat. Suspecting it to be a 'chota Vyapam' in the making after Madhya Pradesh's recruitment scam, AMU teachers' body adopted a resolution in the executive committee meeting calling for "a CBI inquiry, filing of an FIR, uploading both reports for public scrutiny, and removal of the Controller of Examination Javaid Akhter till the probe is over".

How is it possible to first take a decision cancelling the MBBS/BDS test, ordering a retest after finding anomalies, postponing the announcement of a firm date, and then suddenly restoring the earlier result, AMUTA has asked. The entrance test results aroused suspicions when 30 people qualified from one particular centre at Kozhikode in Kerala.

Ashraf Mateen, joint secretary, AMUTA said, "Everything is so opaque that it appears to be our 'chhota Vyapam', I sent complains on our networking site — AMU Network — demanding that both inquiry reports should be made public but the moderator has not approved."

AMUTA has decided to intensify its agitation and approach the President, Prime Minister, the minister of human resource development, union home minister, chairman of UGC and chairman of Medical Council of India to apprise them of the gravity of the matter and to seek their intervention.

Secretary of AMUTA Mustafa Zaidi said, "The norms of administrative propriety were hardly considered in this probe — we will take this matter to the Centre."

The first decision of cancelling AMU MBBS/BDS test was taken on May 23 on the grounds that it defied the law of averages with 30 people qualifying from one particular centre at Kozhikode. It sparked suspicion in the controller of examination and he brought to the notice of vice-chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah on May 20.

Akhter said, "If I was wrong, I would not have brought this to his (VC) notice I was vigilant. The second inquiry report says that there was no foul play in the Kozhikode centre, and has asked university for formulations of guidelines for conduct of examinations. I had also declared that the retest will be held in first week of August."

The preliminary inquiry committee concluded in its report, "Even though no formal complaint has been received regarding the conduct of the MBBS/BDS entrance test from any of the locations, prima facie there is evidence of a very unusual and unprecedented trend, where a single location (Kozhikode) will be apparently contributing more than 50% of successful candidates for the admission to the MBBS/BDS programme 2015-16. This seems to clearly defy logic, common sense, statistics and law of averages."

The executive council cancelled the test and the retest was announced on May 29 along with the formation of another committee (non-judicial) headed by a retired Allahabad high court judge, Justice Imtiaz Murtaza. This committee gave Kozhikode centre a clean chit, saying "no foul play" was detected and asked the university to give a letter of appreciation to Kozhikode for conducting a fair examination.

The detailed inquiry report also expressed that the bulk of successful candidates had secured exceedingly high percentages in their senior secondary examinations and most of them had also qualified for the KEAM (Kerala Engineering and Medical) examination.

The AMUTA teachers have questioned, "Is that the reason why so many qualified AMU MBBS/BDS exam?"

Zaidi said, "Doubts of the intention of the university surfaced when no firm date for the retest was announced nor was there any preparation for holding of the test, the deputy controller came out with a notice that the date of the test would be decided after the submission of the inquiry report."

The decision is not legally tenable as according to the university statutes and Act for all academic matters, including admissions and examinations, the academic council is the supreme body and the executive council can only act after consideration of the AC's opinion. "The university administration also did not place this report before the AC, so legally the decision is not tenable," Zaidi said.

yoga as cure for diabetes

Gujarat government to promote yoga as cure for diabetes, mental disorders -

The promotion for yoga in Gujarat has not ended with the Yoga Day celebrations. Even after June 21, yoga is set to be promoted across the state through the department of AYUSH, the Lakulish Yoga University and various other education institutes. After actively promoting yoga and training people in the wake of International Day for Yoga (IDY), the department of AYUSH has decided to push yoga not only as a mind and body fitness module, but also as a cure for various diseases. To be flagged off as a pilot project this month, the disease-oriented yoga sessions would be held at ayurvedic hospitals in Ahmedabad, Patan, Rajkot and Limdi (Dahod). Depending upon the response, it would be replicated in the rest 34 ayurvedic hospitals in the state. “This time, we want to take yoga a step ahead from fitness and spread awareness among the public that it could cure various lifestyle disorders like diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems and even various mental problems. The state government approval has already been received for this project,” said Dr Kandarp Desai, director state’s department of AYUSH. -
Apart from trained yoga teachers, a team of AYUSH doctors would scrutinise the applications for a medical history and status to decide whether to allow them to attend the yoga sessions or not. Unlike regular yoga camps, this would be only once a week and carried out for a year. The department of AYUSH would rope in specialised yoga instructors as well as take help from various NGOs in spreading awareness on this disease-oriented camp, confirmed Dr Desai. “Modalities would be worked out in a day or two as we want to start this in July,” he added. Recently, the department of AYUSH had organised a six-day yoga camp at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Nearly 3,000 participants took free of cost yoga training in the camp. 1. Yoga sessions for civil service aspirants and government employees: The Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) for the first time is offering two separate yoga courses — for both its students and the general public. The institute, which offers various training programmes for aspirants of central and state civil service examinations as well as mid-career training to government employees, included yoga too in its training module from July 1. “For the general public, it would be on the first-come-first-serve basis as we have a limited capacity of 100 participants. Beyond that, any interested person have to wait. While the idea of introducing this course for the students and employees staying at the institute hostel is their physical and mental well-being, for the public, it is to open the campus garden for them,” said director general Vipul Mittra. 2. MoUs with various private universities: The Lakulish Yoga University on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway has signed MoUs with various private (non-yoga) universities. Under the MoUs, the Lakulish varsity would train students of other universities at their campus. The MoUs have been signed with Raksha Shakti University, Nirma University, Swami-narayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratisthanam and Bhagvad Vidyapeeth. “Nearly 950 students of these institutes are enrolled in various yoga courses under the MoU. It is to facilitate these students by training them at their campus and does not require them to visit the Yoga university,” said Lakulish University vice-chancellor Dr Bansidhar Upadhyay. The yoga university has also started a post-graduate two-year degree courses of MA and MSc.

First Published on: July 6, 2015 2:54 am The IndianExpress

diet

Fruits and vegetables

All fruits and vegetables, due to their rich nutrient and fiber content, help to combat chronic inflammation, so make sure to include adequate amounts of these foods daily. Some types of fresh produce, however, are even more potent than others.

Some terrific anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables to include in your meal plan include apples, berries, broccoli, mushrooms, papaya, pineapple, and spinach.

Green tea

This mild beverage is great for helping shrink your waistline as well as for decreasing inflammation. The flavonoids in this tea have natural anti-inflammatory properties. And the compound EGCG in green tea has been shown to help reduce body fat.

Monounsaturated fats

These heart-healthy fats help raise your healthy HDL cholesterol levels and reduce overall inflammation. Great sources include olive oil, almonds, and avocado

Omega-3 fatty acids
Research has shown that a diet with a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and a low percentage of omega-6 fatty acids has been linked with decreased inflammation. Food sources of omega-3s include walnuts, flaxseed, and fish, such as wild Alaskan salmon.

Spices

Certain spices, including garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and chili peppers, have potent inflammation-reducing capabilities, so try adding them to meals as often as possible.

Whole grains

Rich in fiber, whole grains help control the insulin response in your body. The high B vitamin content of whole grains also helps reduce the inflammatory hormone homocystine in the body.









8 Exotic Superfoods to Boost Your Immune System
By Wendy Warner and Kellyann Petrucci from Boosting Your Immunity For Dummies

Exotic superfoods are more mysterious, perhaps even harder to find, but well worth your efforts. These exotic superfoods have been used in other parts of the world for their powerful healing punch successfully. Get to know some of these unusual superfoods and figure out how to implement them into your overall superfood regimen.

1

Extracts from acai berries may destroy cancer cells, particularly those associated with leukemia.

Acai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) are grown on the palm trees in the Amazon rainforest of northern Brazil. The name of the game with acai berries is pure antioxidant and nutrient power.

They fight leukemia. A well-known study, done by the University of Florida, found that extracts of the acai berry destroyed human cancer cells grown in a lab. More studies are needed to confirm its effects, but this step is definitely in the right direction.

They reduce inflammation. One of the best things that acai berries can do for you, due to the large amounts of anthocyanins they contain, is reduce inflammation associated with chronic diseases. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, fatigue syndromes, digestive discomforts, aches, and pains are all helped by reducing inflammation.

They shield your heart against disease. The pulp of acai berries has deep healing agents that contain antioxidants and fiber that reduces cholesterol — and keeps your digestive system healthy to boot!
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2

Goji berries are richly immersed in antioxidant power.

Goji berries (pronounced go-gee), which are the commercial name for wolfberries, have been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine.

Battle cancer: The phytochemicals in goji berries may have powerful anticancer effects. A 1994 study published in the Chinese Journal of Oncology stated that goji berries have a positive effect on treatments when used in conjunction with other cancer therapies.

Support weight loss: Goji berries contain natural compounds that are lipotropic, meaning they help carry fat away from the liver and burn those extra calories.

Protect your heart: Goji berries have compounds to lower cholesterol, are natural defenders against free radical damage, and release levels of homocysteine, a protein associated with heart disease and inflammation.

Prevent age-related eye problems: Goji berries have a high level of antioxidants, like beta carotene and zeaxanthin, which are important for vision. Zeaxanthin protects the eyes, specifically the retina, and may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Boost your libido: This amazing superfood not only raises your spirits, but it also raises your libido! Goji berries raise testosterone levels, and, therefore, your sex drive goes up.
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3

Dulse is a sea vegetable with many vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and other natural food chemicals with antioxidant properties.

Dulse is reddish brown and comes in whole leaves, powdered, or as a condiment. This sea vegetable is chewy with a salty finish. Dulse flakes give a great flavor to salads. You can also eat it right out of the package!

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4

Hijiki is a sea vegetable that looks like black angel hair pasta.

Called the “beauty vegetable” in Japan for the shiny hair and beautiful skin it gives to those who indulge, this sea vegetable helps nourish the thyroid, promotes healthy skin and hair, and promotes a healthy immune system.
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5

You can find virtually every nutrient in sea kelp.

Kelp is a great source of iodine, which is a vital nutrient that many are deficient in and that your throid needs. Kelp noodles are delicious and a wonderful way to add sea vegetables to your diet.
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6

Kombu, another sea vegetable, provides minerals that are particularly important in your diet.

Kombu is a type of brown algae that has a beautiful dark purple hue. You can find kombu fresh, frozen, or dried. It comes in thick strips or sheets. It has a savory taste and can be used as a food flavoring, food topping, or a nice salty addition to soups.

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7

Nori is the most popular sea vegetable because it’s used to make sushi.

You can find nori in colors from dark purple to marine green. You can use it as a condiment for soups, salads, and casseroles or cut into strips.
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8

Another great sea vegetable, wakame, provides a salty taste that comes from a balance of sodium and other minerals from the sea.

Wakame (pronounced wah-ka-may) is a tender grayish green sea vegetable, and when you soak wakame, it expands many times its original size. Eat it raw as a snack, add it to soups and stir-fries, or roast it and sprinkle on salads and stews. Wakame becomes soft and melts in your mouth when cooked. What a great way to add minerals to your foods!

Sea vegetables also give you a good dose of fiber to promote digestive health.


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not to promote Ayurveda

NDA not to promote Ayurveda at the cost of regulations
TNN | Jul 3, 2015, 07.43 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The NDA government, which decided to provide impetus to Ayurveda education, on Thursday told the Supreme Court that no relaxation in rules and regulations would be extended to students for admission into Ayurvedic colleges and that they must scrupulously adhere to it.

Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar said the NDA government was challenging a Karnataka High Court order which had ruled that permission granted to admit students for a particular year would regularize the admissions made in the previous years.

He said permission to admit students for an academic year is given by the authorities after thorough inspection of the infrastructure and faculty strength of each college and the permission was valid only for that year. If the college wanted to increase intake of admission, it has to obtain a fresh permission from the authorities after satisfying them about its infrastructure and faculty.

A bench of Justices A R Dave and V Gopala Gowda said: "Is the government not promoting Ayurveda? You are right on the legal front when you say that every educational institution should follow the rules and regulations scrupulously. But, look at the health care infrastructure in the country. It is in shambles and woefully inadequate."

Kumar stood his ground and said allowing retrospective regularization of admissions on the basis of current permission would result in allowing those who were not properly trained in Ayurveda to start prescribing medicines. The bench agreed to hear the issue at length.

In December last year, the NDA Government had permitted setting up of 18 new Ayurveda colleges attempting to promote traditional forms of treatment and integrate them into the existing health care system.

Of these 18, seven will come up in Uttar Pradesh, three in Maharashtra, two in Rajasthan and six each in other states. The approval was given by Ayush ministry which is in charge of Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy.

The UPA regime had given permission to only one college in 2013 against 30 applications seeking to establish new Ayurveda colleges. No permission was given in 2011 and 2012.

At present, there are 281 Ayurveda colleges in the country offering 15,057 graduate and 3,081 post-graduate seats. In September, 2014, the government had notified National Ayush Mission (NAM) to suggest a detailed road map to shore up Ayush infrastructure and regulate the traditional medicine industry.

74 lakh workforce by 2022: NSDC

India’s healthcare sector to require 74 lakh workforce by 2022: NSDC
The NSDC also said that healthcare sector is expected to grow to Rs 9.64 lakh crore by 2017
New Delhi: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has estimated that incremental human resource requirement in India’s healthcare sector will almost double to 74 lakh by 2022. “Workforce requirement for the healthcare sector is expected to grow from 35.9 lakh in 2013 to 74 lakh in 2022,” NSDC said in a statement. Besides, the size of the healthcare sector is expected to grow to Rs.9.64 lakh crore by 2017, it added.
At present, healthcare spending in India stands at less than 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), as compared to other developed countries, while out-of-pocket expenditure comprises about 92% of private expenditure as compared to international average of nearly 50%. With a diverse range of medical services, there are over 11 lakh allied health professionals in the country in the fields of nursing associates, sanitarians, medical assistants, medical equipment operators, optometrists, traditional and faith healers, physiotherapists, dieticians and dental assistants, which is still short of the current demand.
The report further states that there is a significant gap in the availability of allopathic doctors (6.21 lakh) and it is a trend that is likely to continue into the next five years. “There are over 7,50,000 registered Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners in the country. These numbers, when combined with the total number of physicians trained in allopathy, fulfil, to an extent, the total requirement of medical practitioners required in the country,” it pointed out. According to the report, there are only 356 registered medical education institutions. The total admission capacity is nearly 45,000 students at the undergraduate level and about 24,000 students at the post-graduate level in the country.
The report observed that highly urbanized regions, including the Delhi NCR, are heavily concentrated with healthcare facilities while rural regions remain underdeveloped. “India has become one of the leading affordable destination for people looking for best medical care at costs lower than that of the developed countries. We can further leverage our position as a reasonably priced and quality healthcare solution provider, thus catering to a greater proportion of world population. Hence, there is a need for both qualitative and quantitative skill development initiatives in the healthcare sector. We also need to focus heavily on upgrading technical skills of the workforce for advanced healthcare services,” NSDC MD & CEO Dilip Chenoy said.

Nadigraph by Dr K V Pathak

Track disorders with pulse on ayurveda
By Nozia Sayyed, Pune Mirror | Jul 3, 2015, 02.30 AM IST
City-based expert invents device that can detect cardiac, nervous system and digestive disorders with a pulse beat; presents it to Ministry of AYUSH.

It's a device that can read three types of disorders — cardiac, nervous system and digestive. And it's ayurvedic to boot. Perplexed? Nadigraph is an invention by ayurveda expert Dr K V Pathak, which functions like a portable ECG machine and has its name derived from nadi pariksha and electrograph. Pathak was called by the Ministry of AYUSH in Delhi on Thursday to present his 3-in-1 creation. If endorsed, it will be included in the practice of ayurveda nationwide.

Speaking to Mirror from Delhi, Pathak said, "Pulse examination is very important for a doctor. It helps in knowing a patient's blood circulation and, thereby, his cardiac system. Observing the fact that clinical examination itself is becoming extinct, I tried to develop this product or sensor to be more specific. When placed on the wrist, it can read three disorders through ayurveda. The ancient science was always underestimated, but it is an ancient science and this new technology will only make this age old science more practical and help the patient develop trust in his doctor." Pathak started work on it in 2005.

The readings are visibe to the patient like an ECG reading. "When I received a letter from PMO, inviting me to present the invention at AYUSH, I readily accepted it. The ministry of AYUSH has formed a technical committee to view such presentations, which then discusses before endorsing the newly developed products. The committee seemed impressed, but I await the ministry's final decision on the technology," he explained.

Dr K D Katoch, adviser of ayurveda at the Ministry of AYUSH, who had seen the presentation given by the Pune-based ayurvedic doctor, said, "We tried to understand his concept and certain suggestions were given to him. Though it looked very promising, it lacks proper clinical research where an electro-physiologist and many technical aspects need to work together. To become more formal and developed as a final product, we will be assigning a few experts, who will work along with Dr Pathak. But, before that, the minister's approval is awaited as he is on tour for a few days."

What prompted him to develop such a technology? Pathak replied, "Ayurveda is more than 5,000 years old and is the first to diagnose a patient's condition through pulse reading. In olden days when queens fell ill, a 'raj vaidya' was summoned by the kings. He was not allowed to touch the queen, so the diagnosis was done through a silk thread tied to the queen's wrist, with one end held by the vaidya. He would prescribe nedication according to the thread's vibrations. This is very similar to external examination done with a stethoscope by an allopathic doctor."

Doctors on Warpath

Bengal Doctors on Warpath as Diktats Tie them Down

By Arup Chanda   Published: 02nd July 2015 05:17 AM   Last Updated: 02nd July 2015 05:17 AM (IndianExpress)

KOLKATA:As the country celebrated National Doctors’ Day on Wednesday, hundreds of physicians and surgeons are on a warpath against the TMC Government.

They allege humiliation for not toeing the line of the TMC-affiliated Progressive Doctors’ Association (PDA) and for not succumbing to the diktats of state Medical Council president and TMC legislator Nirmal Majhi. Also a physician, Majhi is considered close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

At least 250 doctors of the state health service have submitted their resignation to the Directorate of Health Services at Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake.

“Doctors leaving government service is nothing new. It was there during the Left Front regime too. But the numbers were not so high... That is why the service rules for government doctors were amended last year and the VRS option removed. Even then, a large section of senior doctors are willing to forfeit their retirement benefits and quit, fed up with punishment transfers,” an administrative department official said.

The most notable of cases was that of Arun Singh, a renowned neo-natal specialist. The Union Government had sought his services, but Mamata refused to let him go. He was then transferred to Sagar Datta Medical College and Hospitals in Kamarhati, where no paediatric department existed. He refused to join there and is currently a medical adviser to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, after a brief stint at the Centre. The most recent case was that of Pradip Mitra, the SSKM Hospital director who was sent on “punishment posting” after he disallowed the dialysis of a pet dog belonging to Majhi’s relative. When he opted for VRS, service rules were cited. After he threatened to move court, he was put on “compulsory wait list” without any work or even a chamber at the Swasthya Bhawan.

Many top specialists in orthopaedics, gynaecology and neurology of leading state-owned medical colleges and hospitals are on leave. All of them have been transferred to hospitals in remote areas and once their leave periods ended, they plan to put in their papers.

Majhi’s alleged attempt to cancel the registration of Shyamapada Gharai, a neuro surgeon who once headed the Bangur Institute of Neurology but was suspended by Mamata.