polio-free certification by AYUSH

WHO's polio-free certification high point in health sector
By PTI | 25 Dec, 2014, 10.53AM IST

Eradication of polio from India was a high point in the health sector during 2014 which also saw some improvement in the country's health indices.

NEW DELHI: Eradication of polio from India was a high point in the health sector during 2014 which also saw some improvement in the country's health indices like maternal and infant mortality rate though there was a lot of ground to be covered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision in November to change Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, a practicing doctor and a former health minister of Delhi, surprised many.

His replacement J P Nadda is considered a close aide of Modi and has been rather low key compared to Vardhan's penchant for almost daily statements.

Nadda is busy giving final touches to the NDA government's ambitious National Health Assurance Mission, which aims to provide free health insurance to the poor. It is likely to be rolled out next year.

There were mixed signals from the new government against the use of tobacco as after hiking cigarette prices it did not enforce its earlier proposal to ban sale of loose cigarettes and make tougher anti-smoking laws.

As Congress-led UPA was swept out of power by the BJP-led NDA, the saffron party's favourite health projects like promotion of ayurveda and yoga received official push. Government cleared National Ayush Mission (NAM) to address gaps in health services in vulnerable and far-flung areas of the country.

Through ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (Ayush) mission, the Centre seeks to support the efforts of state governments for providing Ayush health services and education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and remote areas.

Government has already approved setting-up of 18 new ayurveda colleges this year, against permission for only one such institution in the past three years.

The Centre also came up with a proposal of opening AIIMS- like institutions in most states.

India's biggest recognition in the field during the year was seen in March when the World Health Organisation gave it polio-free certification for reporting nil case of the crippling disease for three years on a trot and described it as an example for others to follow.

physiotherapy and AYUSH

Indian Physiotherapists Association demands inclusion of physiotherapy in department of AYUSH
By PTI | 21 Dec, 2014, 03.22PM IST

The association has decided to send a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put forth their request, IPA general secretary Dr Ketan Bhatikar said.

VADODARA: The Indian Physiotherapists Association has demanded inclusion of physiotherapy in the central government's department of AYUSH.

The association has decided to send a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put forth their request, IPA general secretary Dr Ketan Bhatikar told PTI today.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a two-day national summit on physiotherapy held here which concluded last night, he said.

The inclusion of physiotherapy in Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and formation of a central council for this health care profession will give an independent status to physiotherapists, at par with other medical professionals, he said.

The Department of AYUSH is a governmental body for developing education and research in ayurveda, yoga, unani, naturopathy, siddha, homoeopathy and other alternative medicine systems.

"The formation of a council will enhance the status of physiotherapy profession, as the role of physiotherapists in the delivery of health services, including investigation, treatment and prevention of disease by virtue of special skills, is paramount and they are most the critical manpower for providing preventive and curative health service," Bhatikar said.

However, due to the absence of proper laws and regulatory systems, the profession is not getting its due recognition, he said.

The council will play a major role in curbing the growth of sub-standard, unauthorised physiotherapy courses and will also ensure high quality physiotherapy care and services to the needy people, he said.

The delegates at the summit also suggested that physiotherapists be allowed to used the prefix 'doctor' as they claimed that physiotherapists are not paramedics, he added.

Nearly 1,000 physiotherapists from different parts of the country attended the summit.

Lady Ayush appeal

Lady Ayush doctor urges Naveen Patnaik to save her life
Dec 22, 2014 - Akshaya Kumar Sahoo | Bhubaneswar

Pranati Barik The Asian Age  Dec 22, 2014

A lady Ayush doctor, who served the tribals for over five years in remote and Maoist-affected villages of Nuapada district in Orissa with a monthly contractual salary of Rs 10,000, has made a fervent appeal to the chief minister Naveen Patnaik to save her life.

Pranati Barik, the 43-year-old lady doctor hailing from Puri, is suffering from severe heart ailments which require substantial amount money for advanced treatment.

According to family members of Pranati, she developed heart problem a year ago when she was posted at Timanpur in Nuapada district with. As the disease required regular treatment, she got transferred to her home district Puri and worked at Chhaitana Primary Health Centre under Gopa block.

However, she is no longer able to go to the PHC as she remains bed-ridden and survives on oxygen support.

Despite battling severe financial hardship, Pranati’s family members took her to a private hospital in Bengaluru last year where an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) was planted inside her chest. Unfortunately, that ICD has stopped working, causing serious breathing problems.

“Pranati’s family has already spend Rs 25 lakh for her treatment and they are no longer in a position to spend more money. They have sold out all their valuables,” said human rights activist Mr Akhand.

Siddha Medical Council

TRICHY: The Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council/ Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine has urged all qualified siddha, ayurveda, unani, naturopathy and yoga practitioners to get the 2D barcoded registration certificate and identity card on or before March 31, 2015.

"The graduate medical practitioners of siddha, ayurveda, unani and naturopathy and yoga can apply with the prescribed application forms," said G Rajasekaran, registrar, Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council, Chennai.

The state government has been issuing registration certificates with 2D barcode since April 1, 2014 to check the prevalence of quacks.

Yet, many of the eligible Indian medicine practitioners across the state are yet get the registration certificate and ID card.

The mushrooming of quacks prompted former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in May 2013 to make an announcement in the assembly. She ordered the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council/ Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine to eliminate bogus certificates issued for BSMS, BAMS, BUMS and BNYS.

"The issuance of bogus registration certificates and the ID cards to the quacks previously by the council were found. The matter was taken into consideration seriously and it was decided to crack the whip on those quacks. Hence, the council rolled out the new method of issuing bar-coded registration certificate and ID card," Rajasekaran said.

He said approximately around 1,000 Indian medicine quacks might be practicing across the state and the new system would keep them at bay.

In Tamil Nadu, around 4,500 practice siddha, 1,000 ayurveda, 500 unani and 800 naturopathy and yoga. Of them, 2,000 siddha, 500 ayurvedha, 240 unani and 500 naturopathy and yoga practitioners had applied and got the new card.

The council said the practitioners should display the registration certificate in their clinic/ hospital.

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.

DACP for AYUSH DOCTORS

key post in AYUSH hold by IAS who not intrested in AYUSH .....Big issue

  TN IDMA to approach PMO to appoint only persons with ISM background as commissioners for ISM Depts in states
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Monday, December 15, 2014, 08:00 Hrs [IST]   PharmaBiz.com


Demanding a drastic policy change in the administrative machinery of Indian Systems of Medicines in state levels, the Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (TN IDMA) has decided to approach the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) requesting to bring in a special rule to recruit qualified and experienced persons from any branch of the Indian system of medicines to be appointed as Director/Commissioner of the ISM department in each state.

TN IDMA will also request other state units of the IDMA to represent the Union government with the same demand, besides approaching respective state governments. In Tamil Nadu, the state unit of the IDMA is linked with all the associations of the traditional medicine manufacturers and it works as an umbrella organisation.

The association has taken this significant decision in the wake of the deteriorating situation prevailing in the ISM sector in Tamil Nadu where the ISM department head is not taking any upbeat step for the industry’s growth, commented the chairman of the association. He alleged that the major reason for the apathy of the senior administrator is ignorance about traditional medicines. If a person from the same field undertakes the responsibility of the Commissioner, the situation will prosper, said M Rajaratinam, the chairman of TN IDMA.

According to him, senior level IAS officers working as directors/commissioners for ISM, are coming from different backgrounds, and they do not know much about Indian medicine industry. Also, they are not interested to work for the development of traditional medicines, but are supporters and followers of modern system. In the memorandum to the prime minister, the association will mention these points and apprise the prime minister of the existing situation in the country, especially in Tamil Nadu.

“If a person with a background of Indian medicine is posted as the commissioner/director, he will take positive steps for the growth of the industry because he knows everything about the industry, medicines and the treatments. Further, he will be capable of taking the state level problems in the industry to the central Ayush department and discuss in matters related to treatments under traditional systems. The directors/commissioners hailing from other backgrounds may not even fully know the drugs and cosmetics act/rules. Unlike other sectors in health area, the traditional and herbal medicines are a different sect which can be taken forward only by a person with full knowledge in it”, said Rajaratinam.

Moreover, the IAS officers are often tenacious in enforcing the act and rules without considering the history of the growth of traditional systems like Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani etc. He quoted the example of Tamil Nadu ISM Commissionerate where the commissioner has stopped issuing new licences and product enforcement certificates for the last several years, due to which the industry has now reached a sticky situation. This happens mainly because of commissioner’s apathy in dealing with matters and inability to find solutions for complicated problems. The central Ayush department remains as a mute spectator of this horrific situation.

Accusing lack of concern by the successive ISM commissioners as the only reason for the decline of traditional medicine sector in Tamil Nadu despite the state government spending a lot of funds towards its promotion, the chairman said the system will no longer prosper as long as the bureaucratic set up continues in the state.

“The traditional medicine sector will thrive provided the government appoints a qualified professional from the same field. It can be from the regulatory side or academia or practitioners of ISM. They are knowledgeable persons, working in the same field and interested to promote the system. Government is spending huge sum of money for the promotion of Indian medicines and research every year. But nothing fruitful is happened here, no assessment is also held. The bureaucrats assuming full power and sitting on the top is deciding everything without knowing anything about the sector which comprises the industry, academia and treatment. If a change should happen to this, people of the industry, researchers and the graduates of the Indian systems, especially those from siddha community should rise up and put a demand to the government for a policy change. The TN IDMA is ready to support them. A consortium of all associations representing traditional medicines should approach the central government for a policy change in the national level in this regard”, he opined.

Yoga compulsory for everyone

Beltanady: Yoga classes compulsory for police & armed forces, students - Union minister Sripad Naik

Write Comment | E-Mail To a Friend | Facebook | Twitter | Print
Bellevision Media Network

Beltangady, 14 Dec 2014: Under Rural Health Commission, in collaboration with AYUSH department, yoga training centre will be established at Nagamangala. The first phase of construction already completed and second phase will be completed soon. Karnataka state government allotted 50 acres in this regard. The similar 6 yoga training centers will be established in the country in the next 5 years, said union ministry of AYUSH state minister Sripad Y Naik.

The minister Sripad was delivering valedictory address during international convention held as part of silver jubilee celebration of SDM Naturopathy and Yoga College, Ujire, here on Sunday December 14.

It was proposed to conduct compulsory yoga classes for police and armed forces, schools. Yoga got further world recognition as UNO announced to observe World Yoga Day on June 21 as per the request of PM Modi, said minister Sripad. He further said, ‘yoga and naturopathy are part and parcel of Indian culture and traditions that can enhance total well being. One can lead healthy life by shunning alcohol and smoking,’ said minister Sripad.

Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade said that government should recognize naturopathy like allopathic treatment. Yoga and naturopathy units got to be opened in all hospitals. The government should reserve 10 percent of budget to AYUSH. AYUSH units should be opened in every taluk canter. A separate government body to be formed to keep tab on yoga and naturopathy clinics, advised Dr Heggade.
The representatives John Wadal from Australia, Dr Erica from US, Dr Sharan Patil form Kollapur shared their experiences.
Rajeev Gandhi University of Health Sciences vice-chancellor Dr K S Ravindranat was present.
Beltangady MLA K Vasant Bangera presided the programme.
SDM Naturopathy and Yoga College principal Dr Prashant Shetty presented the summary of conference.
The minister Sripad felicitated Dr Heggade, Professor S Prabhakar, D Harshendra Kumar, Dr B Yasho Varma, B Sitaram Tolpadittaya, Krishna Singh D S and Dr Prashant Shetty on the same occasion.
Beltangady TP president Jayanti Paledu and Ujire gram panchayat president K Balakrishna Gowda were also present.

Ministry for Ayush a recognition of ayurveda, says Balkrishan


no side-effects: Acharya Balkrishan, vice-chancellor of Patanjali Ayurvedic University, with Dr Arun Kumar, principal of Rishikul Ayurvedic Medical College, in Haridwar on Sunday. a tribune photograph

Tribune News Service


Hariwdar, December 14
The formation of a separate ministry for ‘ayush’ by the Central Government is a laudable step as it signifies the recognition of ayurveda.

Ayurveda expert and vice-chancellor of Patanjai Ayurvedic University Balkrishan said this at the 20th annual convention of Rishikul Ayurvedic Medical College Graduate Student Council here today.

Balkrishan cited ancient proponents of ayurveda like Sushrat and Charak, who laid the foundation of the ayurvedic medical therapy thousands of years ago.

“The ayurveda therapy is far better than other medical therapies, be it acupressure, acupuncture or allopathic. It has no side effects. It is a herb based and aided with yoga asanas and eradicates ailments from its roots,” said Balkrishan, who is working on an ayurveda encyclopaedia.

Organising committee president Dr Rama Kant Sharma shed light on the Rishikul Ayurvedic College student council and said in 1995 this organisation was found with the name of Graduate Council and it had served as a bridge between college management and students.

Rishikul Ayurvedic College principal Dr Arun Kumar Tripathi said the world was now accepting the miracles of ayurveda, which India had been practising and propagating for ages.

He urged young students to work hard as the western world was opting ayurveda in place of allopathy and soon there would be a shortage of expert ayurvedic practitioners.


 By The Tribune Trust,2014 Design & Developed by: 4C Plus

national policy on allowing Ayush doctors

Ayush Doctors to get a better deal
Reshma Ravishanker, Bengaluru, Dec 07, 2014, DHNS: (DECCAN HERALD)

There would soon be standardisation of the degree course for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (Ayush) across the country, according to Minister of State for Ayush, Shripad Yasso Naik.

In an interview with Deccan Herald at the S-VYASA University here on Saturday, Naik spoke about the measures that would be in place to strengthen the system. “The existence of quacks has been one of the biggest challenges that the industry is facing. Standardisation of degrees will address the issue,” he said.

On strengthening the industry, he said that more job opportunities would be made available in the Ayush field to ensure better pay.


“Presently, most of them with Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery degree are recruited by the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Then, the problems of less pay and administration of allopathic drugs arise. By ensuring better job opportunities, we can ensure that our doctors are better paid,” he said.

Even as the Centre has been stressing on the need to incorporate an integrated approach to strengthen the health system, there has been no clarity on the same. Naik said that the Union government would first aim at strengthening the existing system and then introduce changes.

On being asked whether integrated approach would sustain despite the existing disparities in pay between the Ayush and other streams of medicine, he said “This has been brought to my notice even during my meeting with the health minister of Karnataka U T Khader. Will look into this issue and increase pay if need be.”

Speaking about the long-standing issue of shortage of drugs, Naik said that the problem is because of shortfall of production. “We need to strengthen the existing industries and set up more of them,” he added.

Ultramodern auditorium

The minister inaugurated an ultramodern auditorium at National Institute of Unani Medicine on Kottigepalya campus during the visit.

The Setting up of the auditorium will facilitate exchange programs and academic activities at the campus.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister appreciated the students for presenting 300 research papers in Unani.

In a meeting with the Union minister, at Vikasa Soudha Minister for Health U T Khader put forth several demands including a national policy on allowing Ayush doctors prescribe allopathy drugs, expediting the process of affiliation of ayurvedic colleges, more grants for the State under the Ayush mission and increasing salaries of Ayush doctors under National Rural Health Mission.