The Hindu : Medicine kit programme runs into opposition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Medicine kit programme runs into opposition

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 25. Allopathic doctors are up in arms against a move to `force' them to distribute Ayurveda, Homoeo and Unani medicines through the sub-centres and primary health centres of the Health department as part of the Central Government's Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme.

The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association, (KGMOA) has gone on record alleging that by attempting to make practitioners of modern medicine prescribe Ayurveda or Unani medicines, the Central Government was trying to aid the backdoor entry of indigenous medicine systems into modern medicine.

``There are Ayurveda dispensaries in all panchayats in the State through which these medicines can be distributed. So why should the Centre make the practitioners of Allopathy medicine system prescribe Ayurveda drugs?'' asks B. Mohandas, the district president of KGMOA.

It was in May that the Centre announced the decision to procure and supply Ayurvedic and Unani drugs as part of the ongoing RCH programme.

Accordingly, certain Ayurveda and unani drugs were identified with the help of the Department of Indian System of Medicine, keeping in view the utility of these in treating common ailments in pregnant women and children.

These drugs are to be distributed as medicine kits to the sub-centres under the Department of Health in nine States, according to the order.

The Chief Medical Officers in each district are to be responsible for receiving and supplying these kits to all sub- centres.

Since the doctors of modern medicine are not familiar with the indigenous medicine systems, the Centre has also issued a directive that women health workers, health officials and doctors in PHCs be given training in prescribing these drugs.

The training is to be conducted by select Ayurvedic training institutes.

The entire process will be funded and coordinated by the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.

The KGMOA's stand is that each medicine system be allowed to retain its individual identity and that the choice of treatment be left to the patients or their relatives themselves.

It also claims that the Centre's directive is in conflict against the rulings by the Indian Medical Council, the Supreme Court and the consumer redressal foras that a doctor practising a particular medicine system cannot prescribe medicines in another system.

``There is a belief among people that indigenous drugs do not have any adverse reactions on the body, which is wrong.

"Practitioners of modern medicine are least familiar with the indigenous medicine systems and we cannot take responsibility for any possible reactions that might occur due to the mixed medicine treatment,'' says Dr. Mohandas.

He also points out that Supreme Court ruling clearly says that doctors who prescribe or administer non-allopathic drugs are liable to be prosecuted.

And that ``they are liable to be considered quacks per se without further evidence or argument''.

The KGMOA has raised the matter with the Health Secretary and the Director of Health Services, who have promised to take up the issue with the Centre.

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