Working Group recommends 12 times hike in allocation for Ayush during 12th Plan

Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

The Working Group on Ayush set up by the Planning Commission has recommended a 12-fold increase in the allocation for the Department under the next Five Year Plan. Against Rs.3988 crore of the 11th Plan, it has suggested Rs.47,535.55 crore, including transfer of Rs.10,000 crore from National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) flexipool for implementation.

The ongoing schemes of 11th Plan comprise of eleven Central Sector Schemes with allocation of Rs.2053 crore and three Centrally Sponsored Schemes with allocation of Rs.1935 crore. The total allocation amounted to Rs.3988 crore. The 38th Report of the Public Accounts Committee (2006-07) has seriously pointed out that the share of Ayush in the total health plan at the central level has been only 2 per cent in spite of the policy pronouncement of raising Ayush share to 10 per cent with designated growth of 5 per cent in every Five-Year Plan. Inadequate allocation for Ayush has been considered by PAC the main reason for not achieving the set targets, the working group said.

“Accordingly, the 12th Plan allocation for Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes is proposed to be enhanced almost by 7 times and 17 times respectively, including the transfer of Rs.10000 crore from NRHM Flexipool. This has led to total projected allocation of Rs.47535.55 crore (about 12 time-hike from 11th Plan allocation) to pave for effective implementation of projects in strategic thrust areas identified above and to step up the process of mainstreaming of Ayush,” the report said.

Necessary updating and revision of the norms, without making any structural change or change in the funding pattern of the schemes, will be done to ensure that the objectives of the schemes are adequately met, project proposals in targeted thrust areas are properly funded and the outcomes happen to be of long term value for the Ayush sector, it said.

The ongoing six schemes under Central Sector Schemes are strengthening of Department of Ayush, statutory institutions, hospitals and dispensaries, strengthening of Pharmacopoeial Laboratories, IEC and Ayush & Public Health function under the head of “System Strengthening”. In the 12th Plan, a provision of Rs.1409 crore has been proposed against the 11th Plan outlay of Rs.282.75 crore.

A key component of the allocation is augmenting pharmacopoeia work to develop 1000 monographs and strengthening Pharmacopoeia Commission & associated laboratories to accelerate the work of standardization and quality parameters of ASU drugs as per global requirements and acceptability.

Another component is providing support to build up the initiative of safety monitoring of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs under the pharmacovigilance system, which was introduced in the country during the 11th Plan period, by designating one National Pharmacovigilance Resource Centre, 8 regional centres and 30 peripheral centres to develop the culture of reporting adverse drug reactions of ASU drugs (Rs.15 crore).

    

Uniform Treatment Protocol in Siddha Medicine Pharmabiz News

CTMR develops uniform treatment protocol to manage type-2 diabetes

A uniform treatment protocol backed by 59 practising Siddha physicians and NGOs across Tamil Nadu was put forward by the Chennai-based Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR) for managing type-2 diabetes. The protocol was declared in a seminar of Siddha doctors on the world diabetes day in Chennai by CTMR. According to the organisation, the protocol is to be accepted and followed by all Siddha practitioners in India in order to develop a common code of function for diabetes treatment, and rules to regulate it. Due to lack of an established pattern for applying Siddha treatment methods on patients at different places, the stakeholders are losing so many advantages and the system is ignored on several occasions, opined doctors assembled in the seminar. The secretary of CTMR, Dr T Thirunarayanan while releasing the protocol norms said because of a common protocol the system is ignored even by Life Insurance Corporation of India for medical insurance purpose. It is well documented and has a proven track record, but lacks recognition like that of the foreign healing system. The new protocol will help bring new vistas of recognition for the ancient Indian system, he said. “The general opinion among Siddha physicians was that the management of disease would vary from patient to patient based on their ‘prakruti’ (physical nature). With the anti-diabetic property of many herbal drugs, it has been established that the choice of drug could also vary and uniform treatment method pose a challenge. This uniform protocol is a way out for all concerns,” said Dr Thirunarayanan while declaring the protocol. He said Siddha medicine is not merely drug based, but has a comprehensive approach to the management of disease, which covers daily and seasonal regimen, cleansing therapy, diet, exercise, drug, yoga, pranayaama and meditation, and these methods have been included into the treatment model. The research institute has carried out consultative meetings to evolve the uniform treatment protocol involving Siddha physicians working in primary health centres, district and taluka government hospitals, teaching institutes and private practitioners. Based on literary evidence from classical texts, scientific research journals, clinical experiences of various doctors in treating diabetes and its complications such as neuritis, retinopathy, renal impairment and diabetes ulcers, the final concept of treatment protocol was evolved, Dr Thirunarayanan said.

Preserve and decipher Palm manuscripts

மத்திய சித்த மருத்துவ ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவனம் நவம்பர் ௧௪  (14) முதல்   ௧௬(16) வரை மூன்று நாட்கள்  சுவடியியலைப் பற்றிய  பயிலரங்கம்  நடத்தியது. இப்பயிலரங்கத்தில் பாரம்பரிய மருத்துவ ஆய்வு மையத்தின் சுவடியியல் வல்லுநர் வித்வான்.சீனிவாசன் அவர்கள் சுவடிகளில் எழு தப்பட்டுள்ள எழுத்து வடிவங்களை இன்றைய தமிழில் எழுதுவது குறித்து விளக்கி மருத்துவச் சுவடிகளை உடனடியாக படியெடுத்து, பொழிப்புரை கொடுத்து  பதிப்பிக்க வேண்டிய அவசியத்தை எடுத்துரைத்தார். Dr. ராஜ் குமார் இம்மூன்று நாள் பயிலரங்கிலும்  பங்கேற்று, இறுதி நாளில் சுவடிகளை  சேகரிப்பது, செம்மை ப்படுத்துவது, மின்னகல்  செய்வது, பராமரிப்பது ஆகியவற்றில் ஏற்படும் நடைமுறைச்சிக்கல்களை தமது அனுபவத்தின் அடிப்படையில் எடுத்து உரைத்தார்.  மேலும்  சித்த மருத்துவ சுவடிகளை படிக்க, பதிப்பிக்க சித்த மருத்துவர்களுக்கு மொழி புலமையும், சுவடிகளை வாசிக்கும் பயிற்சியும் அவசியம் எனவும் வலியுறுத்தினார்.  பாரம்பரிய மருத்துவ ஆய்வு மையம இப்பணியினை மேற்கொள்ள தயார் எனவும் தெரிவித்தார்.பயிலரங்கை செவ்வனேமேற்கொண்ட Dr.சத்தியராஜேஸ்வரன்     மற்றும் Dr. மீனாக்ஷி சுந்தர மூர்த்தி நன்றிக்குரியவர்கள்.   

Back to nature – Not Just food, Medical system also

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS), Chennai an NGO with a strong belief  that  the future lies in understanding and harnessing the potential of indigenous knowledge systems and integrating them into the mainstream of scientific, industrial and everyday thinking. This belief is in synergy with the thinking of Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR) particularly in delivering affordable healthcare through Indian Traditional Medicine Siddha and Ayurveda. Both Organizations believe that harnessing the full potential of the traditional knowledge only will help build a strong and self-reliant society. It was no surprise that when Mr. A.V.Balasubramanian, Director CIKS proposed working together in the area of health, Traditional and Organic food, Sustainable development using natural biological resources available in their project districts of Ramanadapuram, Thiruvanamalai and Dindigul, CTMR was too happy to accept the proposal.

Following the Chukkankollai farm visit and training on ‘Health through Herbs’ by CTMR team Mr.K.Subramanian, Project Director CIKS organized two training programmes for the organic farmers of Ramanad district at Kamudi on 15^th Nov, and at Kanivadi on 16^th Nov for farmers of Dindigul district.

The trip to kamudi from Madurai is along the river and since being the north east monsoon the ever dry riverbed had some water flow. Being the peak agricultural season the farmers suggested the programme commence around 10.30 a.m so that they can do some farming activity before they assemble for the training. The farmers are growing sesame, ground nut, chilies organically in their farms and vegetables organically in their homes for self use. Since this is the third year of the window period of conversion to organic status, certification will be received after the current crop. On interaction they expressed their happiness in growing traditional varieties organically and mentioned that not only their cost of cultivation come down and since they are registered seed producers they get a better price for seeds (Rs 42 against Rs 29 for conventional sesame seeds). The coordinator Mr.Marimuthu warned that there will be power cut at 2.00 PM it is advisable to finish the training where use of LCD projector is warranted. Therefore it was a continuous session of 3½ hours.

 I was unsure if I will be able to hold the attention of the farmers for such a long spell covering areas like Basic principles of Indian Traditional medicine, Regimens of healthy living, Management of common ailments with locally available resources, Identification and utilization of locally available biological resources, Scope of developing Home herbal garden and Techno-commercial  feasibility of sustainable collection and growing of medicinal plants as hedge crop, intercrop, tree species along the bunds etc., The session was very interactive with the farmers chipping in with questions and at times sharing the known regional use of some of the medicinal plants. What was more attractive was that the training took place in a typical rural set up and under a thatched roof and everyone sitting on the floor for almost 4 hours with folded legs. The common ailment for which individuals consulted me after the session was common cold, Bronchial asthma and arthritis. Almost everyone recorded notes and the courtesy extended was too good to forget. A very satisfying day.

                   The Notes on Kanivadi will follow in the next blog.

                                                                                        T.Thirunarayanan

   

World Diabetes Day -2011 at CTMR

Dr.R.Padmapriya last year took part in a panel discussion which explored approaches of different systems of medicine. This year she proposed to hold the event at out Puzhuthiwakkam centre itself. 14^th Nov being a Monday, the first working day of the week, the team decided to have the Awareness Programme on 13^th Nov.2011- Sunday. The format of the event was discussed. The structure emerged like a Free medical consultation, and distribution of a well researched siddha medicine, Awareness lecture, Interactive question answer session, A medicinal Plants exhibition and display of organically grown food alternatives primarily minor millets.

Dr. Rajkumar took up the responsibility of designing invitation, banners and communication to various neighborhood newspaper. Dr.T.Thirunarayanan and Vd.S.Usman Ali designed a 16 page booklet on Managing diabetes and living healthy in Tamil. Two Tamil fonts were used and final booklet was ready only the day before. Mr. Adikeswan collected fresh organic herbal material and made the Madhumega churanam under the supervision of Dr. S.Rajkumar.

The Banners were displayed near Railway station and Temples like Nanganallur Anjaneyar temple and Bhuvaneswari temple with high visibility.

Mrs. V.Sundaravalli took charge of the medicinal plants in pot for exhibition and Dr.Sangeetha prepared the signboards for each of them with botanical and Tamil names. Ms.Sumathy of reStore – an Organic food store run by volunteers passionate about organic food and health living arranged for the display along with hand bills.

The individual counselling session on food and exercise was handled by  Dr.Sangeetha. The awareness lecture was delivered by Dr.T.Thirunarayanan with almost 25 years experience in designing a diabetes treatment protocol including a novel drug with plants . It was in the narrative form with interaction from participants

Forty persons consulted the doctors and what was more heartening is the participation of family members of diabetes who wanted to know about the food choices, bursting stress through yoga and meditation, healthy lifestyle as recommended by Siddha science and the questions about fruits to be consumed, vegetables which are to be restricted, oil to be used in cooking, the frequency of use and type of non-vegetarian food. Exercise, duration, type were all discussed.

In spite of high decibel publicity by Multi-nationals Pfizer and Corporate Diabetes hospital with large media support, the number of participants in a neighbor hood event was significant. By way of dissemination through the social network, one associate from Salem. Vasita Siddha Yoga centre conducted an awareness programme in Salem and Dr. Hariharan is organizing one in Sencottai with support of Rotary Club of Coutrallam of which Dr.T.Appranandam of  Siddha Health Foundation is incharge of social services. More events to highlight the cost effective holistic approach of Siddha and Ayurveda in management of Non Communicable lifestyle disorders is needed. This will greatly reduce the cost burden of managing lifestyle disorders.

One Key learning from the event is - Like Cost effective affordable treatment through Siddha, Educative awareness programmes could also be conducted at very low budget.

World Diabetes Day