Can AYUSH revitalise healthcare in India

Experts are of the opinion that AYUSH can certainly compliment modern medicine. However, this calls for the establishment of clear roles for AYUSH practitioners as well as making India’s indigenous health systems more evidence-based.

- Raelene Kambli

Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) have long been practised in India. These streams of medicine even form the first line of treatment in case of common ailments in some places. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is looking to revitalise and mainstream AYUSH (including manpower and drugs), as a measure to strengthen the public health system in the country. One of the initiatives in this direction is the inclusion of a AYUSH medications in the drug kits of ASHA workers. Reportedly, the additional supply of generic drugs for common ailments at SC/PHC/CHC levels under the mission will also include AYUSH formulations. At the CHC level, two rooms shall be provided for AYUSH practitioners and pharmacists under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) model. At the same time, single doctor PHCs shall be upgraded to two doctor PHCs by inducting AYUSH practitioners at that level. Thus, a lot of steps are being implemented to promote and mainstream AYUSH.

This initiative by the government has stirred a debate within the healthcare industry. While some are in favour of these steps, there are others who question their legality. Those in favour are of the opinion that AYUSH medications can act as a complementary displicine to allopathy and it will help take a holistic approach toward healthcare delivery. It would also help to alleviate the acute human resource crunch within the sector.