Making ayush medicines globally relevant, parl panel shows the way

Even though the Union government is taking several initiatives to boost ayush medicines, there is still a growing suspicion in the western countries about the quality, scientific evidence and authenticity of the these medicines, especially ayurvedic, which are exported mostly as herbal products or food supplements. It is also a fact that as an industry, ayush sector, especially ayurveda, has not seen its potential growth when compared to its increasing global acceptance and the capability to heal ailments.

To overcome the hurdles for global growth, the traditional healing industry has to prove that it is a substantiated science. Towards achieving this all stakeholders should together make concerted efforts to promote the country’s traditional system as scientifically proven medicine to the world, especially the prophets of doom from the west.

To avail the benefits and promote exports, the industry needs to talk about science and evidence rather than constantly speaking about heritage and philosophy. Moreover, the research work on the basis of science and technology on all branches of ayush need to be compiled at a faster pace to prove its scientific relevance.

In spite of all efforts being undertaken by the Union ministries of Ayush and Commerce & Industry in order to promote traditional Indian medicines abroad, a number of steps still need to be taken to get global acceptance. A step forward will be in educating foreign-based healthcare managers and regulators on ayurvedic philosophy and its applications that have been in vogue since historic times.

In this background, the recommendation of a Parliamentary panel holds much water. The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in its recent report, has recommended the government to undertake certain strategic measures for strengthening the Ayush sector in the country and a pronounced recognition and acceptance in the international market.

The committee recommended a strongly robust quality control mechanism exclusively for ayurvedic medicines. The panel, headed by Bhubaneswar Kalita, in its recent report, urged the Centre to put in place the proposed Department of Integrative Medicine in all New AIIMS with adequate provision of faculty and non-faculty human resources; promoting Ayurgenomics and creating evidence on ‘vat, pit and kaf’ and its relationship with human genome; provision of Ayush medicine in Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras; completing Ayush vertical in Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); and integrating ‘Shree Anna Programme’ in the ayush sector, undertaking research projects on millets and global proliferation of quality and health benefits of millets.

In another crucial recommendation, the panel, which reviewed the budgetary allocation for the Ministry, and its operations, recommended that the two systems - ayush and allopathy -work separately without any coherence, therefore, a referral mechanism between these ‘pathies’ is required to be developed.

Allopathy and ayush practitioners can be trained in holistic care in an integrated fashion and be placed in all primary caregivers in the government as well as private settings under the National Health Mission.

It also recommended that the National Ayush Research Consortium should scale up ayush research in the field of clinical studies, therapeutic studies on principle and practices, research facilities with global standards; provision for at least one Ayush Institute of National Importance in each State; transforming research councils, NISR, and other tech-enabled national Ayush institutes; and creation of employment opportunities linked to the ayush education ecosystem.

The panel added that it is of the considered view that the provision and mission objective, which is to translate the research outcome into clinical practice through commercialisation of new drugs developed by CCRAS. Also required is mainstreaming ayurveda therapies through integration and incorporating it in the National Health Programme; revalidation of certain classical formulations for evidence on safety and efficacy, which all would ensure global recognition and acceptance of the ayush system.

Of course, the system’s effectiveness has to be documented and the objective should be to come up with safe and efficacious drugs, especially for people looking for an alternative system of medicine.

There is no doubt that with these initiatives, the credibility and acceptability of not only ayurveda but all Indian systems of medicine would of a very high order on the global spectrum.