ISM&H URGES
UK GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE AYURVEDA AS MEDICAL SYSTEM FOR HEALTH
CARE
The Government is trying for recognition
of Ayurveda B.A.M.S. course and registration of Indian qualified
physicians in U.K. Department of Indian Systems of Medicine &
Homeopathy (ISM&H) has been impressing upon the British authorities
to recognize Ayurveda as a medical system for health care. ISM&H
has also been trying to persuade them to allow institutionally
qualified physicians to practice in U.K. Due to the efforts made
by the Department, Government of U.K. has agreed to upgrade Ayurveda
from category three to category one for single drugs, meaning
thereby that scientific base of Ayurveda is accepted by British
authorities. Curriculum of 5-1/2 year duration for BAMS course
and Indian Medicines Central Council (IMCC) Act 1970 which regulates
education and practice in Ayurveda has also been sent to British
authorities.
Department of Health, Government
of U.K., has set up a Herbal Medicines Regulatory Working Group
(HMRWG) to consider possibility for suggesting enactment of law
to regulate drugs and practice in herbal medicines including Ayurveda.
They have worked out a tentative curricula for 2560 hours of which
Ayurveda was allotted 1150 hours. The curricula is inadequate.
In the given situation only two options remained, i.e. either
to be left out of herbal medicine regulation course or have a
foothold with a dominant Ayurveda content. Getting isolated at
this stage would have far reaching implications detrimental to
Ayurveda. Therefore, the second option with a view to promote
Ayurveda at international level, the Department forwarded core
curricula covering 1700 hours of Ayurveda teaching. The curricula
contains purely Ayurveda portion and covers all basic principles,
concepts, diagnostics of Ayurveda. It was made clear to the Government
of U.K. that modern medicines contents would have to be additionally
taught to the students.
The herbal course for which Ayurveda
will have dominant share is a step in the right direction for
the future negotiation for recognition of 5-1/2 years course of
teaching and training and registration of Indian physicians.
