THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though Kerala is all set to become ‘Total Ayurveda State’, doctors and practitioners of this stream of medicine say the state would not achieve stunning heights unless a total health delivery system was put in place. Though Ayurveda is gaining popularity, speciality treatments have not yet found a place in the district as well as taluk Ayurveda hospitals as the government is yet to sanction such posts.
As of now, specialist treatments are available only at Ayurveda Colleges. The government is yet to give sanction for including specialist services at district and taluk Ayurveda hospitals. “Though the government seeks to make Kerala a Total Ayurveda State, there is a dearth of specialists in all the Ayurveda hospitals, including Ayurveda colleges,” said Ayurveda Medical Association of India general secretary Dr Rejith Anand.
Noting that only three specialties - Panchakarma, Marma and Dermatology - are now recognised by the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) Department, he said it was about 20 years ago that Marma and Dermatology were included as a specialist service in ISM and panchakarma about ten years ago. After this, the government has not cared to include any speciality service in the department,” he added. Though these speciality treatments are available in Ayurveda colleges, the taluk/district hospitals, where more people go for treatment, do not provide any speciality treatment.
“The government should see that at least gynaecology and paediatrics specialists, which are basic specialties, are appointed in taluk and district hospitals,” he added.
The Association has demanded to provide selected speciality treatments at taluk Ayur hospitals and to make available all speciality treatments at the district Ayur hospitals, Anand said.
He opined that the state could boast of a total Ayurveda State only if all the taluk and district Ayur hospitals could give a total public health delivery system.
‘proposal to include specialist services’
Indian Systems of Medicine director Dr Anita Jacob said that a proposal has been sent to the government to include specialist services in taluk and district Ayurveda hospitals. “As of now, these are not included in the special rules. Once the government gives approval, the special rules can be amended to include specialty services.” She also maintained that a comprehensive public health care system could be achieved only if complete treatment facility was provided at all the Ayurveda hospitals.