Ayurveda PG course for MBBS

Union Ayush ministry plans to introduce Ayurveda PG course for modern medical graduates

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai Friday, January 06, 2017, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

With a view to spread the traditional Ayurveda system worldwide, the Union Ministry of Ayush (MoA) is contemplating on a new programme to admit the graduates in allopathic system (MBBS) into courses of post graduation in Ayurveda such as MD, MS and PG Diploma. Following the decision of the MoA, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) has called for a meeting of experts and Ayush ministry officers in New Delhi on January 6. The executive committee members of the CCIM and academic committee members will also attend the meeting. According to sources, a proposal in this regard was made before the ministry by senior officers looking after the academic wing in the department of Ayurveda and it was endorsed by the ministry following advice received from experts. Government of India was observing and following the methods being adopted by Chinese government in propagating their traditional medicines abroad. In China, graduates in modern medicines are doing PG courses in their traditional healing system and going abroad to treat patients through traditional methods.  This has helped a lot in propagating Chinese traditional system of treatment in foreign countries. Similarly, the Ayush ministry under the union government intends to spread the Indian traditional methods of treatment into foreign countries. The meeting of January 6th will discuss the curriculum of the PG course to be taught for the new entrants in the system, as one of the agenda, it is learnt. Though government is planning to go ahead with its project, mixed responses are coming from the ayurvedic community, especially from the physicians’ group. The experts in academia are of opinion that without a basic knowledge in the system, letting the modern medical graduates do PG courses in Ayurveda cannot be consented and the government’s move is against all principles of the traditional science. It is learnt that CCIM is planning to make changes in the existing syllabus of the PG courses by adding some additional papers to educate the students the basics of the system. Another version has come from some leading exporters of Ayurveda medicines and practicing physicians that if a graduate in allopathy does the PG course of yurveda, he can practice the system in foreign countries and thereby to help propagate the traditional treatment of India there. With this, India can develop the Ayurveda shasthra world wide and people from abroad will come to India for follow up treatment. Pointing out the pros and cons of the government plan, Dr D Ramanathan, general secretary of the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI), said permitting the modern medical graduates to learn Ayurveda for their PG course without basic knowledge is not advisable. But, he said, no one should be prevented from studying the traditional system of the country, especially when there is scope for developing Ayurveda in foreign countries. Ramanathan further wanted the Union Ayush Ministry that care should be taken for not to lose chances of the qualified Ayurveda post graduates in India and outside. According to a senior Ayurveda academician in Karnataka, a few years ago a private university in the southern part of Karnataka had started PG Diploma course for MBBS students, but the CCIM had not recognized the course then, and finally the students had to approach the apex court in the country for justice. Later, the university stopped the PG Diploma course. Sources from the government said, the Ayush Ministry is also planning to introduce a Pre-Ayurveda Course of two years in place of Plus Two course. The students joining the  Pre-Ayurveda course can complete graduation in Ayurveda (BAMS) in next five years time. In total the period of the course will be 7½ years.  It is learnt that CCIM will discuss this matter in the 6th January meeting.