Fwd: The right diagnosis: India’s medical pluralism has huge potential

'rechristened' ayush? jee, so much brainwashing. 'renamed' would be just fine

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:

The right diagnosis: India's medical pluralism has huge potentialShailaja ChandraJan 11, 2016

				The right diagnosis: India's medical pluralism has huge ... To be accepted the world over, traditional medicine needs to judged by the same standards as modern medicine writes Shailaja Chandra
				View on www.hindustantimes.com	Preview by Yahoo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking at the recent International Conference on the Frontiers of Yoga, held near Bengaluru, where he uttered words no one, certainly no PM, has had the courage to speak from a public platform. "We must also apply the techniques and methods of modern science, to test and validate results, assure quality and explain benefits," Modi said before a community of traditional medicine experts and practitioners who had come expecting to hear hosannas in their praise.

He was right. To be a believer and a proponent of traditional medicine is one thing and to get the world to believe in traditional healing is another. In the absence of any tools of measurement, medical claims require proof of safety and effectiveness of outcomes judged by the same standards of research methodology and analysis as set out for modern medicine.

Ayurveda and two other traditional medical systems — Unani and Siddha — have been an undisputed part of India's approach to medical pluralism for centuries. These systems have been recognised for the grant of medical degrees from 1970 and their medicines have been licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. Taken together with the drugless therapies of yoga and naturopathy this group totals more than the entire allopathic fraternity presenting a powerful political constituency with direct influence on the community they serve. In 1993, the then PM PV Narsimha Rao, announced the setting up of a new ministry for ayurveda. After encountering bureaucratic resistance he agreed instead to carve out a separate department within the health ministry.

...

India is sitting on a gold mine of knowledge and experience. Instead of using it to benefit humanity, traditional medicine educationists and practitioners are waiting for their day of recognition. The only way that can happen is if they validate knowledge using the tools of modern scientific research.

Shailaja Chandra is former chief secretary, DelhiThe views expressed are personal

--

sent from samsung galaxy note3 neo, so please excuse brevity