Friday, February 27, 2015

Authority for AYUSH

Govt proposes to set up separate central authority for AYUSH PTI The Hindu Business Line New Delhi, Feb 27: The Government has moved a proposal to set up a separate central authority for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik said that the enforcement of regulatory provisions for ayurveda, siddha, unani, and homoeopathy medicines is presently vested with state governments but there is no separate regulatory authority at the central level. “Therefore, considering the distinct nature of ayurvedic, siddha, unani, and homoeopathy medicines and huge size of its industry, the Government, on recommendation of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Consultative Committee, has moved a proposal to set up a separate central authority,” the minister said in a reply in Lok Sabha. The Department of AYUSH aims at providing attention to development of education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy systems. The objective is to oversee the implementation of relevant provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and develop improved coordination between central and state regulatory authorities for effective quality control of AYUSH drugs. Final decision in this regard has not yet been taken, the minister added. Naik also gave details of action initiated against the offenders regarding spurious, sub-standard, adulterated and expired AYUSH medicines reported and investigated. (This article was published on February 27, 2015)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

AYUSH & NIF

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE/LOCAL WISDOM Delhi February 25, 2015 Last Updated at 20:20 IST National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has built up a database of over 2,00,000 technological ideas, innovations and traditional knowledge, majority of which pertain to agricultural, veterinary or human use. The traditional knowledge documented at NIF is screened for its novelty and then validated with the help of State Agricultural Universities, Veterinary Universities, R&D institutions etc. NIF has an MoU with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to validate novel claims of herbal healers. For the practices found to be unique/novel, NIF also files patent in the name of knowledge holders. Besides, the CSIR has been playing an important role in protecting India's rich traditional knowledge in healthcare by creating a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). To document/protect traditional knowledge of the tribal people in the Country, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has also made an effort to prepare briefs on the products/crafts practiced by them and their marketing. The Tribal Sub-Plan scheme of the Department of Science & Technology provides opportunities to motivated scientists, technologists and field level S&T organizations to take up action-oriented and location-specific projects aiming at socio-economic up-liftment of tribal population through appropriate technological interventions. To strengthen the capability of grassroots innovators, NIF has established thirty four (34) community workshops in rural areas in eighteen (18) states of the country at the premises of seasoned innovators so that other grassroots innovators of the region can have access to fabrication facilities and also learn from the experiences of such innovators. This information was given by the Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha today.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Uniform Rules for AYUSH

Uniform Rules for Licensing of Ayush Medicines Delhi February 24, 2015 Last Updated at 16:20 IST Business Standard Regulatory provisions and Rules for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs are in place under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which is a Central Act applicable throughout the country. Rules 85-A to 85-I and Rules 151 to 159 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 respectively provide the regulatory provisions for grant of licenses to manufacture Homoeopathic and Ayurveda, Siddha Unani drugs and promote their safety and quality. The standards of Homoeopathic medicines to be complied with are prescribed in Schedule II of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs in Rule 168 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Extension of support for improving the quality control system to Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs has been included in the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission, which was notified in September 2014. This information was given by the Minister of State, AYUSH(IC), Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Alternate Methods of Treatment

Scientific Study on Alternate Methods of Treatment Delhi February 24, 2015 Last Updated at 16:20 IST (Buisiness Standarad) The efficacy and safety of drugs and therapies for various remedies is scientifically established through clinical validation carried out by the 5 Research Councils under the Ministry of AYUSH namely Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH). The diseases conditions for which clinical validation of drugs/remedies have since been carried out by these Councils include Acute Diarrhea in children, Anaemia, Amnesia, Acute gastroenteritis, acute rhinitis in children, Chikungunya, Filariasis, Influenza like illness, Malaria, Upper respiratory tract infections, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Benign, Prostatic Hyperplasia, Bronchial Asthma, Cancer, Chronic Bronchitis, Diabetes mellitus, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leucorrhoea, Hepatitis, Menopausal complaints, Menstrual disorders, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Urolithiasis, Urticaria, Anorexia etc. This information was given by the Minister of State, AYUSH(IC), Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

shortage of doctors

Mainstreaming of AYUSH to address shortage of doctors in rural areas TNN | Feb 25, 2015, 06.36 AM IST NEW DELHI: The government is working to bring traditional medicines such as Ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy (AYUSH) into the mainstream and doctors practicing these streams are being engaged to address the shortage of medical practitioners in rural areas. "Mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the core strategies in National Rural Health Mission which seeks to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to the rural population. Under National Health Mission (NHM)/ National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), engagement of Ayurveda Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) doctors/ paramedics is being supported, provided they are co-located with existing District Hospitals (DHs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs)...," AYUSH Minister of State Shri Shripad Yesso Naik told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. He also said the government is trying to train AYUSH doctors to address the shortage of skilled health care personnel in the rural areas.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

AYUSH and our President

'AYUSH' aimed at increasing traditional systems of healthcare: Prez Feb 23, 2:29 pm New Delhi, Feb. 23 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said the government has recently elevated the erstwhile department of AYUSH to a full-fledged ministry with an objective to increase the global and local footprint of the traditional systems of healthcare. "My government has recently elevated the erstwhile department of AYUSH to a full-fledged ministry with an objective to increase the global and local footprint of the traditional systems of healthcare, duly recognizing that our villages have been the repositories of our rich Ayurvedic heritage," said President Mukherjee in his address to both houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session. "National AYUSH Mission has been launched to promote cost effective AYUSH services, strengthen the education system and facilitate availability of quality AYUSH drugs," he added. The Budget Session, which contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business, began today with President Mukherjee's address. The first part of the Budget Session will continue till March 20 while the second part will commence after a month-long break from April 20 and conclude on May 8. The Rail Budget will be presented on February 26, Economic Survey on February 27 and General Budget on February 28. (ANI)

Monday, February 23, 2015

Namaz & Yoga

Yoga will bring down rapes, claims BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi Press Trust of India @ibnlive Feb 23, 2015 at 02:49pm IST New Delhi: If yoga comes into the life of every common people, it will help in bringing down incidents of rape in the country, veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said. In a remark that may spark a controversy, he also said that Muslims do yoga five times in a day and termed "Prophet Mohammad as the greatest yogi". "I believe if yoga comes into the life of common people, then the daily incidents of rape, I would not say, they will cease to exist, but there will definitely be a decrease in them. It will create a new way of thinking amongst men and women. Changing the way one feels for a human body that the body is such a machine which nature has given us for some larger work, people's attention will go towards this," he said. In a remark that may spark a controversy, he also said that Muslims do yoga five times in a day and termed "Prophet Mohammad as the greatest yogi". He was speaking during a seminar on the "The Iyengar way - Yoga for the new millennium". Referring to an experiment done in New York on transcendental medication introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Joshi said that when a vice chancellor of a university reviewed it, it was found that the crime rate in New York had come down while the inmates in jails had undergone change in their behavior. "Our Muslim brothers do yoga five times in a day. The postures of 'namaz' in that two or three postures, even you will be able to tell (which are they). That is why I think Mohammad sahab was a great yogi. As this prescription is of praying to god connecting it to yoga, he could not have done it without practising yoga," he said. Referring to the government's focus on skill development, Joshi said that that there should be coordinated group between various ministries including Ayush, Education, Health and Skills which would see how yoga can be utilised in ones social and economic life.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Swine Flu and Unani Herbal Treatment

Swine Flu and Unani Herbal Treatment Camphor (Kafoor) Cinnamomum camphora (Linn.) J. Presl 12 g.m. Corn mint(Pudinah)Mentha arvensis Linn. 12 g.m. Ajowan caraway(Ajwayin)Trachyspermum ammi(Linn.)Spragne 06 g.m. The above said drugs boiled and collect its Vapors and condensed in glass bottle. Used as oral and local cured and prevent the swine flu. in chemist a product named "Arq Ajeeb" is available Manufactured by Hamdard,Tibbiya,etc

contract staff in Delhi

Feb 18 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi) For now, contract staff will not be sacked New Delhi: TIMES NEWS NETWORK   The AAP-led Delhi government has set in motion the process to fulfill its promise on regularization of contract labour. Putting the existing policy and status of contract employees under review, the government has issued directions that services of contractual employees should not be terminated till further notice. A statement issued by the CM's office said that the government would like to review the existing policy regarding status of contractual employees engaged in various departments and organizations under Delhi government. During the 49 days of AAP's last government, a committee was set up to study the issue of contract labour.A report on the number of la bourers involved, the problems and a brief on the existing policy was sought.However, the report was still in the making when Arvind Kejriwal resigned and the city was put under President's Rule. In the absence of a government, no action was taken on the report. Returning to power with a formidable mandate, the Kejriwal government has put on priority regularization of contractual labour. Speaking to TOI, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that the report of the committee is being studied. “We are clear that contract labour has to be regularized and permanent jobs are necessary in critical sectors like education and health. Now the focus is on working out ways to deliver permanent jobs,“ Sisodia said.

Friday, February 6, 2015

powers to drug inspectors

CPA demands more powers to drug inspectors for effective enforcement of drug laws Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai Thursday, February 05, 2015, 08:00 Hrs [IST] PharmaBiz.com Against the backdrop of rampant violations of Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) and Drugs and Magic Remedies (DMR) Act, Chattisgarh Pharmacy Association (CPA) has demanded more powers to the drug inspectors in the state for effective enforcement against drug dealers who sell drugs at high prices and make false claims of treating a disorder through magical remedies. Union health minister J P Nadda has asked the state health secretary to resolve the issue at the earliest. According to the CPA demand, drug inspectors should be given Class 2 status and the pay band of Rs. 5400. More powers delegated to drug inspectors will lead to faster action against drug dealers who disregard DPCO and sell drugs at high prices under false promises. Meanwhile, state government is also in the process of examining the demand. As of today, only 23 drug inspectors are working in Chhatisgarh to ensure compliance in over 6000 drug retail stores in the pay band of Rs. 4,300 Class III clerical grade. Rues Ashwani Gurdekar, president, CPA, “States other than Chattisgarh have accorded Class 2 officer post to drug inspectors as a result of which drug inspectors don’t have to wait for approval from the higher authorities to take immediate action in case they find any drug dealer disregarding DPCO or violating the DMR Act. Violators of such acts get sufficient time to escape action due to lack of timely intervention by drug regulatory authorities considering also the fact that ignorant people of rural areas have become vulnerable targets of such drug dealers. “Drug inspector if accorded Class 2 officer post will get powers to even seal the drug retail shop and also suspend the licence with immediate effect for such violations,” he added. CPA has been demanding the empowerment of drug inspectors so that appropriate action could be taken under DPCO or DMR Act but the demand has not been addressed as yet. He explains, "There has been instances wherein remedies are sold under the false assurances of magical properties. It is disregard of DMR Act which controls advertising of drugs and prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties and makes doing so a cognizable offence." The law prohibits advertising drugs and remedies for inducing miscarriage or preventing conception in women, improving or maintaining the capacity for sexual pleasure, curing, diagnosing or preventing any disease or condition mentioned in the act unless the advertiser is a registered medical practitioner, a party who has been given approval by DTAB formed under Drugs and Cosmetics Act or a practitioner of Ayurveda or Unani who has been given approval by the Central government. The provisions of the DMR Act contains a list of more than fifty diseases and conditions which attracts penalty ranging from imprisonment to fine against the violators. Not even a single action has been taken under the above provisions against the violators in the state till date.

hiring Ayush doctors to practice allopathy

IMA mulling action against physicians & establishments for hiring Ayush doctors to practice allopathy Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai Friday, February 06, 2015, 08:00 Hrs [IST] PharmaBiz.com Based on its central council meeting in the last week of December, 2014 to initiate action against physicians and establishments found hiring homoeopaths and Ayurveda practitioners to fulfill allopathic functions, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is scheduled to hold a National Body meeting on February 8, 2015 to take a final decision on the issue among others. IMA had earlier issued directions to the 10,000 healthcare facilities and 2.5 lakh doctors for taking action against those physicians and establishments found hiring homoeopaths and Ayurveda practitioners to practice allopathy. It has been given to understand that the system of employing those qualified to prescribe traditional cures in hospitals and clinics that specialise in allopathic healthcare has resulted in hundreds of medical negligence cases being filed against IMA members. The IMA notification released in December last year stated, "Directions are being given to hospitals and doctors not to appoint Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) doctors as Resident Medical Officers (RMO)/Assistant. Strong action will be taken against those violating the directions". IMA could revoke the membership of a doctor or institution found flouting this directive outcasts will lose the support of IMA in battling medico-legal and malpractice cases. Such hiring practices are prevalent primarily in government hospitals in rural areas, which retain the services of Ayush doctors owing to lack of qualified allopathic practitioners. The state government has also recently passed a bill which allows those practicing Ayurveda and Homoeopathy to practice allopathy upon completing a year-long bridge course called 'Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology', designed by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik. Many Indian courts have excoriated homeopaths and Ayurveda practitioners for prescribing allopathic medicines. In a 1996 case of medical negligence, in which a homoeopath's prescription of allopathic treatment to a man afflicted with typhoid resulted in the patient's death, the Supreme Court, which adjudicated, said: "A doctor must not only be qualified but he must also be registered with the appropriate Medical Council in order to practice as a doctor. A homoeopath would not have knowledge about allopathic medicines and its drug reactions. So the mere administration of allopathic treatment by a homoeopath would be enough proof to establish negligence." However, those Ayush doctors that are the target of the IMA's ire point out that they are treating the poor in Primary Health Centres in rural areas for the past several years and legitimately carry it forward by doing a bridge course through MUHS. There are over 60,000 homoeopaths, 81,000 Ayurveda practitioners in Maharashtra, as against 1.21 lakh allopathic doctors.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

AYUSH cures for cancer

Minister asks scientists to explore AYUSH cures for cancer IANS | New Delhi February 4, 2015 Last Updated at 21:16 IST Add to My Page Related News Tobacco biggest cause of cancer (Feb 4 is World Cancer Day) Following American Cancer Society's guidelines can help reduce cancer risk: Study Early acceptance, positive mindset key to fighting cancer: survivors (Feb 4 is World Cancer Day) city cancer institute launches website on cancer A mouthwash to reduce pain in oral cancer Scientists and researchers should indulge in systematic evaluation of AYUSH remedies and practices in cancer care, Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik said Wednesday. AYUSH covers the entire gamut of alternate systems of medicine, including homeopathy, unani and ayurveda. Traditional systems of medicine are based on strong fundamental principles, time-tested experiences and holistic concepts of application, and not only advise the treatment of patients with drugs, but also have the concept of modulating the life-style, dietary regimen, seasonal regimen and behaviour to prevent and cure the diseases, he said. A scientific eye and mind is required to explore the value from the vast knowledge base of AYUSH for healthcare of cancer patients, Naik said at a symposium organized to mark the World Cancer Day with the theme - AYUSH for Cancer Care. He said: "We must emphasize highlighting the solutions that do exist or can be developed from AYUSH systems to help controlling the menace of cancer and which are within our reach and resources". Pointing out that AYUSH systems emphasize more on the preventive aspect of health having a strong hold in lifestyle management, he stated that they may thus contribute in reducing the incidence of cancer. He added that integration of AYUSH with conventional healthcare system is another important area to be explored to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and to prevent the recurrence and metastasis and improve the quality of life of cancer patients.