Digital Citizenship Cards

India to Administrate Health Plan with Digital Citizenship Cards

India’s federal government will coordinate delivery of its ambitious new healthcare plan using its biometric identification card system, according to a new Economic Times article.

Announced only a few months ago, India’s new National Health Assurance Mission (NHAM) asserted a vision of federally-provided, affordable healthcare accessible to all Indian citizens. The plan would provide citizens with 50 essential drugs and 30 AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) drugs, in addition to other healthcare services. It was met with applause and also a bit of skepticism about how exactly it would be implemented, but at least one piece of that puzzle has fallen into place with this new development regarding Aadhaar.

Spearheaded by newly-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aadhaar is a national identification system being introduced as part of the government’s Digital India initiative. The plan is to get every single Indian citizen signed up for the identification card, which entails iris and fingerprint biometric scanning. Linking the NHAM to the Aadhaar card system will allow the government to secure itself against fraudulent health insurance claims, and will also provider greater healthcare access to citizens.

It’s an ambitious and impressive plan, and by no means is it the only large-scale application of India’s growing biometric identification database: The government is also using public employees’ Aadhaar cards to track their activities at work; it plans to use the Aadhaar cards to administer food and fuel rations; and it’s going to install biometric scanners at major transportation terminals throughout the country.
October 21, 2014 – by Alex Perala
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to be revive Ayush sector

  Commerce ministry to revive Ayush sector globally through revised national scheme
Suja Nair Shirodkar, Mumbai
Monday, September 22, 2014, 08:00 Hrs [IST]


The Union commerce ministry is planning to launch a dedicated programme for the Ayush sector under the national scheme which is aimed at reviving and boosting the industry globally. It is understood that prime minister Narendra Modi has already given directive to the commerce ministry to formulate a comprehensive road-map for fostering a favorable environment for the Ayush sector.

The commerce ministry has already set up an Ayush advisory group for the same, which will be headed by Sudhanshu Pandey, joint secretary, ministry of commerce. In fact he has already sought specific suggestions from the industry to strengthen the Indian traditional system of medicines which comprises Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) for enhancing trade.

Sources informed that the government is very keen on strengthening this segment and has very specific agenda on what needs to be done to spur the growth of this sector. Sources informed that the government plans to propagate not only yoga but also other traditional system of medicines as well across the globe in a very authentic way, well supported and represented by the government of the country.

Industry insiders stressed that this initiative will go a long way in helping the growth of the industry which has been going through a very rough phase in the recent times. Most importantly many feel that the government's systematical and thoughtful support will help the Indian Ayush sector to thwart the Chinese competition successfully in the long run.

While China has been investing heavily to develop their traditional system of medicines, the Indian government has been lagging behind in the past for propagating the same which has forced the Ayush segment to take severe brunt globally. Thus, this move has been welcomed by the industry wholeheartedly as they strongly feel that the times may be really changing for them for good.

Interestingly, the health ministry also had recently launched the National Ayush Mission (NAM) which is aimed at addressing the gaps in health services within the country. The decision to launch the mission was taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, which again seems to point out to their commitment to revive the Ayush domestically as well as globally.
source PHAMABIZ.COM

National Ayush Mission approved on 14/09/14

Government approves National Ayush Mission
PTI | Sep 16, 2014, 07.59 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Government on Saturday approved launching of National Ayush Mission (NAM) to address gaps in health services in vulnerable and far-flung areas of the country.

The decision to launch the mission was taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Through the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) mission, the Centre seeks to address gaps in health services by supporting the efforts of state governments for providing Ayush health services and education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and remote areas.

"Under NAM, special focus will be given on specific needs of such areas and for allocation of higher resources in their Annual Plans. The Mission will help improve Ayush education through enhancement in the number of upgraded educational institutions and provide better access to Ayush services through increase in number of Ayush hospitals and dispensaries," an official statement said.

The mission will also help provide sustained availability of quality raw material for Ayush systems of medicine and improve availability of quality drugs through increase in number of pharmacies and drug laboratories.

All streams under Ayush and rename it as Dept of Indian Traditional Medicines

'Govt should integrate all streams under Ayush and rename it as Dept of Indian Traditional Medicines'
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 08:00 Hrs [IST]  (PHAMABIZ.COM)


For the promotion and popularization of Indian traditional medicines worldwide, the Union government should take steps to integrate the Ayush streams and rename the department of Ayush as department of ‘Indian Traditional Medicines’ (ITM), Dr Arul Amuthan, an ethnopharmacologist from Manipal Medical College suggested to the Union health ministry.

Dr Arul Amuthan, observes that the Ayush degree holders (BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BNYS and BHMS) are practicing various streams of traditional medicines irrespective of their qualifications. Therefore it is necessary to integrate all the streams (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and branded as one.

The department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) was created in March,1995, but re-named it as department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) in November, 2003 with a view to providing focused attention to development of education & research in these systems.

Dr Amuthan, who is supporting the research work in the Centre for Traditional Medicines & Research (CTMR) in Chennai, says that the current Indian healthcare scenario is moving towards the concept of an integrative medical management of diseases where the traditional remedial methods/drugs are combined with the modern systems. This will help the patients receive drugs or remedial measures from different systems of medicines for one disease. But, before initiating this integration of modern and traditional systems, the various traditional medical systems should be integrated first and made it as one system.

At present, the government provides healthcare by using western medical systems throughout India. Additionally it promotes the country’s own traditional healing methods which are not handled alike and are not balancing. For example, in north-eastern states, none of the Ayush systems is followed by the people there. Measures are needed to make all citizens in the country avail the benefit of all the systems.

His observation is that if a modern medical practitioner is intending to refer his patient to Ayush systems, he gets confused as to which system the patient should be guided. The department of Ayush should give a clear idea on this problem. Though there are many physicians available with BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BNYS and BHMS, these degrees make huge confusion among allopathic practitioners, hence they reject the systems. This problem can be solved by integrating the Indian traditional medical systems.

“When we have a common degree and common practice of Indian traditional medicine, then it would be easy to popularize our heritage worldwide and easily to integrate it with modern (allopathy) system. Then Indian citizens will get equal opportunity to enjoy our ancient healthcare heritage, and all other medical systems will have equal chances to serve public”, said the lecturer.

Ayush under common Central regulatory authority

CCIM expert panel not in favour of bringing Ayush under common Central regulatory authority
Peethambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, August 05, 2014, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM)’s special expert committee meeting held in New Delhi last week to discuss the policies pertaining to healthcare plans proposed in the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janatha Party, has felt that the autonomy of the Ayush department should not be abolished and the system should not be brought under the overarching regulatory body for healthcare as envisaged in the manifesto.

The experts felt that if Ayush is brought under an umbrella organisation for regulation, it should lose its independent stance. The manifesto proposes setting up of a common central regulatory body to regulate healthcare, food and nutrition by bringing them altogether under one umbrella.

According to sources from CCIM, the central government has forwarded the healthcare proposals in the manifesto to the Ayush department for detailed discussion and review, for that the CCIM has called a special meeting of Ayush experts. The expert committee was attended by selected experts from Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani in addition to the executive committee members of the CCIM. But the special committee did not favour the idea of bringing Ayush system under an overarching body as the experts felt that once it was brought under a super controlling authority, it will lose its identity and impede its overall growth. Therefore, the special panel of experts suggested for several measures in place to strengthen the Ayush system by utilising modern technologies.

The experts who attended as special invitees in the meeting made suggestions for expanding Indian systems, especially Ayurveda and Siddha, to the north eastern parts of the country where awareness about these traditional medicines is poor among the common public and facilities for treatment are also nil. Members of the CCIM from north eastern states also wanted propagation of Ayurveda and Siddha in their states. The special committee at last decided to request the union government to initiate steps for establishing Ayurveda and Siddha hospitals in those states where they are not started so far.

The key points in the manifesto were to strengthen the healthcare system by making it not only affordable and available to all, but also effective. It also talked of modernising government hospitals in the country and upgrades their infrastructure and technologies. The agenda included proposal for reorganising ministry of health & family welfare (MoH&FW) in order to converge various departments dealing in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals for effective delivery of healthcare services.

The manifesto revealed the government’s commitment to increase public investment to promote yoga and Ayush systems. It said there are plans to start integrated courses for Indian systems of medicine (ISM) and modern science and ayurgenomics. Vigorous programmes will be launched to standardise and validate the ayurvedic medicines also.

Representing Siddha system, Dr T Thirunarayanan, secretary of Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR), Chennai, Dr V Bhanumathi, Government Siddha Medical College, Chennai and Dr Arul Amuthan from Manipal College of Pharmacy attended the expert committee meeting.

AYUSH in AIIMS

Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy to be included in AIIMS system: Harsh Vardhan
Monday, 4 August 2014 - 1:13pm IST | Place: Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) | Agency: ANI Tweet

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said the NDA Government would work towards enhancing Ayurveda's global acceptance as evidence-based medicine.

Speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of a "Global Museum of Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine" at Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yoga Pitha, Dr Harsh Vardhan said: "For the first time since 1947, the government's health policy is going to lay primary emphasis on the Ayurveda Siddhanta. This is in tune with the times as World Health Organisation (WHO) has given considerable importance to Ayurveda in its activities related to traditional medicine.

He further said: "WHO has contributed substantially towards the implementation of pharmaco-vigilance in Ayurveda and the publication of documents for rational use and initiatives to prepare consumer guidelines for appropriate use of Ayurvedic medicines." . "Now, every AIIMS centre will have an indigenous medicine department of which Ayurveda will be a major component. AIIMS Rishikesh will take the lead in this as steps are underway to have a 100-bed AYUSH Hospital and land for medicinal herb cultivation facility for standardised production of medicines," he added.

On AYUSH, Harsh Vardhan said the government has set up a "Committee of Directors" to recommend a blue print for the operationalisation of a yoga training and therapy centre at AIIMS Rishikesh. The committee will be headed by Dr Raj Kumar, Director, AIIMS- Rishikesh, and hold its first meeting on August 4, the Minister stated.

"The old, allopathy orientation of AIIMS is out of sync with the contemporary trend of integrating indigenous and western forms of cure. That is why I wish to give Yoga, along with Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy pride of place in the AIIMS system. All the six new AIIMS will be dynamic institutions of integrated medicine in the years to come," he said.

Baba Ram Dev told reporters that he appreciated the Narendra Modi government's commitment to represent evidence-based treatment in a positive light to the people.

The Minister and the Yoga Guru had a detailed discussion on research trends in modern science and clinical applications of Yoga and Ayurveda. Dr Harsh Vardhan remarked that he was pleased to hear of the guru's monumental work in developing a World Herbal Encyclopaedia.


Government's health policy will lay emphasis on Ayurveda: Vardhan
PTI | Aug 3, 2014, 08.04 PM IST

READ MORE World Health Organisation|Union Minister|Narendra Modi|herbal medicine|Baba Ramdev
Union minister for health & family welfare Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that the government would try enhancing Ayurveda's global acceptance as evidence-based medicine.

NEW DELHI: Union minister for health & family welfare Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that the government would try enhancing Ayurveda's global acceptance as evidence-based medicine.

Speaking to reporters at Haridwar after laying foundation stone of a Global Museum of Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine at yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yoga Pitha, he said that the government's health policy is going to lay primary emphasis on the Ayurveda Siddhanta, for the first time since 1947.

"This is in tune with the times as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has given considerable importance to Ayurveda in its activities related to traditional medicine," he said.

Stating that the WHO has contributed substantially towards the implementation of pharmaco-vigilance in Ayurveda and the publication of documents for rational use, he stated that every AIIMS centre will have an indigenous medicine department of which Ayurveda will be a major component.

"AIIMS Rishikesh will take the lead in this as steps are underway to have a 100-bed AYUSH Hospital and land for medicinal herb cultivation facility for standardized production of medicines," he said.

On AYUSH, the Union minister said, the government has set up a Committee of Directors to recommend a blue print for the operationalization of a yoga training and therapy centre at AIIMS Rishikesh, according to a press release here.

The committee will be headed by Dr Raj Kumar, Director, AIIMS Rishikesh, and hold its first meeting on August 4, the minister stated.

Baba Ramdev said he appreciated the Narendra Modi government's commitment to represent evidence-based treatment in a positive light to the people.

The minister and the yoga guru had a detailed discussion on research trends in modern science and clinical applications of Yoga and Ayurveda, the release further said.

define ambit of herbal drugs

Alternative Medicine
Himalaya Drugs chief wants Centre to define ambit of herbal drugs & non-prescription products
Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 08:00 Hrs [IST]


Union government needs to clearly define the ambit of the herbal drugs and non-prescription products used by the general public, said Philipe Haydon, CEO, The Himalaya Drug Company.

“Majority of doctors advocate the integration of the two systems of medicine namely Ayurveda and allopathy but due to confusion over regulations, they are reluctant to prescribe ayurvedic products. This is detrimental to the growth of the Indian system of medicine but more importantly, it restricts the choice of patients who can benefit from holistic treatment options,” Haydon told Pharmabiz.

The Himalaya Drug Company has drugs that can provide relief to patients suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension among others, he added.

In a communication to the department of Ayush and the Union ministry of health, The Himalaya Drug Company stated “The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) said that doctors of modern medicine should not prescribe ayurvedic drugs. The notification has wrongfully interpreted Section 30 of the Delhi Bhartiya Chikitsa Parishad Act, 1998.”

“Section 30 states that false assumption of practitioner under this Act to be an offence. Any person who falsely assumes that he is a practitioner as defined in clause (k) of Section 2 and practices the Bhartiya Chikitsa (Indian System of Medicine) shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend up to three years and with fine which may extend up to fifty thousand rupees”, stated the note from the company.

Under this section, punishment can be awarded only to practitioners as defined in clause (k) of Section 2 of this Act and no punishment may be awarded to anyone practicing veterinary medicine or veterinary surgery or homoeopathic or modern scientific system of medicine. Section 2(k) of The Delhi Bhartiya Chikitsa Parishad Act, 1998 defines a practitioner as a medical practitioner who practises the Bharatiya Chikitsa Paddhati (Indian System of Medicine), stated the note from the company.

“As per regulations, since Ayurveda products are classified under non-schedule drugs, any doctor in India should have the legal right to recommend it to his/her patients. When this is the prevailing legal and regulatory position, notifications such as the one issued by the DMC contradict this and impede the acceptance of Ayurveda. In fact, doctors with their informed medical opinion should be encouraged to look for the best treatment options even if it comes from complementary and alternative systems of medicine,” pointed out Haydon.

“It is also relevant to mention that Supreme Court in a landmark case, Dr. Mukhtiar Chand & Ors versus State of Punjab empowered State Governments to issue a notification permitting doctors of traditional medicine to practice and prescribe allopathic medicine. Hence, it would be prudent to assume that when the Supreme Court has upheld a notification conferring the right on an ayurvedic practitioner to prescribe allopathic medicines, there is absolutely no reason why a different yardstick should be applied to an allopathic practitioner prescribing ayurvedic drugs, said Haydon.

In the case of Himalaya, its Liv-52 and Rumalaya are recommended by the allopathy doctors as an adjuvant. If the confusion on the cross prescription is sorted out then there could be a comprehensive relief option for the growing patient population, said Haydon.