Pratibha Shah
INTRODUCTION
No single system of health care has the capacity to solve all of society’s health needs. This is especially true for a large, densely populated, developing nation like India whose health needs are acute. The AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) systems of medicine have been used in India for centuries. Their wide acceptability, affordability, accessibility and availability make them ideal candidates for integration into the mainstream preventive and curative healthcare services in the country today.
This paper is an attempt to answer the questions – what is AYUSH* and why it was formed? The paper will talk briefly about the inception and history of AYUSH and also summarize the role and contributions of AYUSH in the healthcare system of India. Finally, the paper will outline the successes and challenges faced by this initiative of integration, and recommendations for future.
BACKGROUND
Up until the early 19th century, Ayurveda – the traditional holistic Indian system of medicine, which primarily uses herbal formulations, was the main system of medicine used by the Indians. But with British colonization in 1857, modern Western medicine – the system of medicine used by the British, was introduced to Indians. It gained rapid popularity and inspired awe, not only because its usage provided instant relief, but also because the elite British Lords used it. This resulted in dislodging and sidetracking of the traditional systems of medicine. Modern medicine gained firm holding in the country in the century that followed.
But since independence in 1947, growing concerns about the adverse effects of chemical-based drugs and escalating costs of conventional health care, have led to a resurgence of public interest in holistic systems of health care. For the Government, a major area of concern has been the flailing healthcare infrastructure in the country. Although healthcare is one of the largest and rapidly growing sectors in India, in terms of revenue and employment, healthcare infrastructure in the majority of the country’s regions has not kept pace with the economy’s growth1.
Addressing these issues, the National Health Policy, formulated in 19832, pointed out that the vast infrastructure available in the form of thousands of hospitals and dispensaries, registered practitioners and hundreds of colleges, belonging to AYUSH systems, was being underutilized. This was because regulations and standards for this sector had never been developed or formalized, in the post independence era. The Policy suggested formation of Councils and Administrative bodies to help regulate and standardize the practice as well as education of AYUSH systems. This would not only help fill the large infrastructural gaps in the healthcare system, but would also strengthen the deep rooted traditional systems of medicine, thus preserving ancient heritage and knowledge base. The Policy stressed on planned efforts to integrate the AYUSH systems with modern medicine services, at appropriate levels, especially in regard to the preventive, promotive and public health objectives2.
As an outcome of this policy, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) created the department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) in 1995, which was re-named AYUSH in November, 20033. Moving a step forward, a separate National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy was formulated in the year 20024, in order to augment the development of traditional systems of medicine in a systematic manner. This was in accordance with the WHO strategy for Traditional Medicine5. A few of the major objectives of the national policy for AYUSH are4:
1) To promote holistic health and expand the outreach of healthcare to people through preventive, promotive, mitigative and curative intervention of AYUSH;
2) To integrate AYUSH in healthcare delivery system and national health programs and ensure optimal use of the vast infrastructure of hospitals, dispensaries and physicians;
3) To provide full opportunity for the growth, development and utilization of AYUSH systems.
A separate Policy on AYUSH has helped establish a more specific framework of guidelines and goals for this move of integration.
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