Hyderabad: Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers’ Association has opposed the bridge course proposed in the National Medical Commission Bill for Ayush doctors stating that such a move would completely halt the progress of Ayurvedic and herbal medicines which have now found a standing and acceptability in the market.
The ADMA argued that currently the practitioners, who are trained in principles of Ayruveda and alternative healing system, promote Ayurvedic products, which they won’t be able to do after undergoing a bridge course. ADMA joint secretary S. Shinde said, “There are thousands of Ayush doctors who want to switch over, but the move will backfire on them when it actually happens and even hurt the industry.”
But then if the issue is only about adverse effect on Ayush industry then doctors of modern medicine on their part also prescribe Ayruvedic and herbal products for arthritis, prostrate, urinary tract infections and other common ailments. Mr Shinde said, “The number of modern medicine doctors sums up to only 0.5 per cent.
There are very few of them. Also, they only prescribe in terms of preventive care. Ayush doctors on the other hand are trained for health care at the higher level. The industry will see a major setback if such a thing happens.”
Integration of various streams of medicines also happens in the treatment and care at the secondary level, although that is not very common. Dr Mallu Prasad, senior Ayurvedic consultant said, “Most patients still come at the last minute when they can’t bear the side-effects of modern medicine.
Hence, a switch from Ayush to modern medicine will harm the industry rather than helping it. Ayush doctors must practice the system that they have learnt.”
With more than 6,600 medicinal plants grown and nurtured and India making it the largest exporter of Ayush and herbal products, the industry wants that the practitioners must not be lured to practice modern medicine and instead made to strengthen their base in the country.
