Indian system of healthcare is very ancient. Today
its underlying principles are being accepted
globally. People now understand that the meaning
of health is not only confined to a disease-free
state, but extends to provide a comprehensive
meaning to life. Disease is merely a symptom,
which occurs when there is an abnormality.
Therefore, our traditional healthcare system aims
to cure the cause, instead of the symptom.
The shortage in the number of healthcare
personnel in our country could be estimated by
comparing their numbers to that of the world
average. The global average of the number of
doctors available for every 10,000 people is 14.1;
while, in India, this number is restricted to 7.
This figure clearly shows how much emphasis
we lay on the doctors, who are an important basis
of a healthy life. Even more worrying is the fact
that the doctors available do not want to go to
rural areas because there they could not flourish
professionally. This is what happens when
professionalism enters the service oriented field
of healthcare. In such a scenario, health does
not remain the primary concern of the doctors,
but wealth becomes more important. This is the
reason why there is no substantial improvement
in the basic health of the people of our country in
spite of such costly hospitals.
Total dependence on the Western system of
medicine could not solve this problem in a
comprehensive manner. This is because the
principle of allopathy is to instantly suppress
the symptoms somehow. When the effect of the
medicines reduces, the ailment appears again.
Moreover, the side effects of the medicines on
the body further give rise to numerous health
challenges. Contrary to this, in the Indian system
of medicine, the cause of the ailment is identified
and attempt is made to remove it.
The western countries, where allopathy occupies
the supreme place, are now increasingly looking
towards the alternative therapies. This is because
they aim at giving better lives to common people;
lay the foundation of better relations between
the medical practitioners and patients and to
provide better and affordable treatment. Another
significant difference is that the alternative
therapies provide a new way of healthy living
to the patient. This makes him aware; and he
resolves to stay healthy.
The masses in America are increasingly looking
forward towards the natural way of treatment and
this new form is called the ‘Integrated System of
Medicine’. Today, a large proportion of the global
population is not only moving towards alternative
therapies but is also trying to develop new basis
for its expansion. About 70% population in
Canada, 75% in France, 45% in Australia and
10% in America are being attracted towards this
ancient system.
Dean Michael Ornish, an American physician,
researcher, speaker, president and founder of
the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research
Institute in Sausalito, California, as well as
Clinical Professor has found out a way to cope
up with lifestyle disorders and is taking this to
the people. He is the first person who has tried
to provide research-based evidence to prove that
by inculcating pure and constructive emotions,
one could cure initial stages of heart diseases,
diabetes and cancer. In this work, he got the
support of Dr. George Lovith of Britain. Today,
he is one of the chief supporters of alternative
therapies in Britain. In our country India, Dr.
Ranjeet Rai Chaudhari, former director of PGI,
Chandigarh is helping the central government in
studying, identifying and testing the traditional
medicines. According to him, if we could learn
to make use of our ancient system of medicine
and the vast collection of traditional knowledge,
then this could have a substantial impact on our
healthcare sector.
The acceptance of alternative therapies on
the global level shows that the Indian system
of medicine is the best. Now, doctors in the
whole world are accepting the fact and truth
that a healthy body could be obtained only in a
disease free state and the basis of a healthy life
could be built only by removing the cause of the
disease. As long as the people of our country
followed this principle of healthcare, they
were healthy and happy. But, with the advent
of allopathy, they began neglecting our ancient
system. Unfortunately any plan formed for
the improvement of the healthcare sector, still
focuses mainly on the modern medical science,
but no concrete effort is made for improving our
own ancient system of medicine.
However, an initiative in this regard was taken
in 1995, when the department of Indian medical
system and homeopathy was established. In
November, 2003, its name was changed to
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). But, it still
needs to be promoted even more. These efforts
could play a crucial role in the formation of a
healthy India, when emphasis would be laid
on comprehensive health education. Such an
education system would not only provide the
knowledge about the cause and cure of diseases,
but would also envisage the guidelines for a
healthy life.
In our country, infrastructural improvements in the
main stream medical system could not be brought
about that easily. Therefore, alternative medical
system could play a crucial role in realizing the
conception of a healthy India. The need is to be
aware about our own health and make this ancient
and glorious system of medicine a part of our life.
This is the basis of a healthy life, by adopting
which, we could become healthy and happy and
could realize the conception of a healthy India.
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