Report on the Training Programme on
‘Specialized Treatment Procedures of Indian Systems of Medicine’
June 2008 to Sept 2008

Organized by the Department of Indian Medicine & Hoemeopathy,
Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

Coordinated by
Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research, Chennai-88

Tamilnadu has a pioneer status in mainstreaming Indian Systems of Medicine in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels of Public health delivery. In fact all district headquarters hospitals, Taluk and Non- taluk Government hospitals and about 408 Primary Health Centres have ISM wings, mostly Siddha wings, while some Ayurvedic and Unani centres are also present. For long provisions have only been made for out- patient consultation along with dispensing medicines in Taluk and PHCs and in-patient facilities along with out- Patient clinics in District Hospitals.

Govt. of India on the proposal from State department of Indian Medicine has provided a Centrally sponsored Scheme for Specialty clinics with the objective of providing Thokanam, Varmam therapies of Siddha and Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda and Regimental therapy of Unani in GHs and subsequently extend the same to upgraded PHCs. Provisions have also been made for providing Physical infrastructure and Equipment for external therapies and medicines. Since the physicians have so far not having an opportunity to provide these therapies in Govt Hospitals, felt a need for imparting reorientation training not just on the treatment modalities and also a uniform approach throughout the state run hospitals with facilities for sourcing required plants and other materials.

Department of Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy, of Govt. of Tamil Nadu decided to organize the training programme. The Special commissioner of Indian Medicine sought for a detailed project proposal from NGOs with experience in organizing training programme in the month of April. Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research, a not- for Profit society working in the above area submitted a detailed project proposal for conducting the training with details of venue for the residential training along with course content and Experts details. After careful consideration of the proposal the Special commissioner on 20th May 2008, convened a meeting of the trainers along with departmental experts in all three systems viz, Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani and in the meeting the course content were approved and the date and modalities of training approved. It was decided to conduct training for 5 days for each batch with 50 trainees per batch. An exclusive training manual was prepared for the purpose and provided to all trainees.

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research coordinated the training programme on behalf of the Government of Tamilnadu and 814 physicians working as Assistant Medical Officers, Medical Officers, District Siddha medical officers, Asst. Lecturers and Lecturers have already completed the training. The first batch of the training commenced on 9th June and the last batch concluded on 26th Sept, 2008. Dr.T.Thirunarayanan, Secretary, CTMR explained the objective and structure of the training on the inaugural day. Dr. Abdul Kadher, Principal of the Govt., Siddha Medical college, Chennai inaugurated the training programme. Shri. G.A. Rajkumar, I.A.S Principal secretary, Dept of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy gave the valedictory address, which was a great motivation for the physicians to implement the special procedures of ISM in the Government Hospital and Primary health centres. The areas covered during the five day training include, Varma, Thokanam, Specialized treatment procedures of Siddha, Panchakarma, Yoga, Unani Regimental therapy.


Based on the feedback from trainees, sessions on ‘Panchakarma’ was limited to two and one Session on ‘Yoga’ and one on ‘Medicinal plants used in special therapies’ was introduced as these would be useful to practice with locally available resources. Vaidya.S.Usman Ali- Director, Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research, Chennai, Mr.Vinodh a yoga expert and corporate Yoga trainer and Dr.B. Malarvizhi were the resource persons for the new sessions.

More volunteers of Patients were treated so that a live demonstration was made possible in Varmam and Thokanam. All trainees were taught to demonstrate simple Respiratory practice –Pranayama and Asanas.

Equipment handling of Steam bath, Steam generator and other Special therapy equipment was also demonstrated. Many trainees felt the Cupping instruments used in Unani regimental therapy and Leeches may be made available in Teaching institutes and District Hospitals.

A model action plan and budget for creating and maintaining a herbal garden in GPHCs/GH with plants of every day use in special therapies was presented to the trainees. The trainees were suggested to seek funds from Hospital Improvement funds under NRHM schemes or State Medicinal Plants Board based on the model budget.

Many participants assured that they will be able to commence at least few of the therapies in their centres immediately.

Training in select hospitals- Panchakarma for a further 7 days for doctors currently running CSS specialty clinics within or outside the state was requested by many participants. This particularly is to get hands on experience as this training has given them an overview and theoretical basis and demonstration but limited opportunity for hands-on experience due to the short duration in which various therapies were covered.

Most participants felt that the training was very useful in content and the way experts presented themselves.