- Prof. Dr. D. B Roka, Chief of Ayurveda Campus, IOM, TU, Nepal
- Dr. Shiva Ram Khatiwoda, Ayurveda Campus, IOM
The main Points of the Paper are as following:
Background: Nepal is a small country with rich cultural heritage and natural resources, but a developing socio-economy, in between two leading Asian giants, China and India. Nepal is still working to develop the agriculture, the main back-bone of economy, and other industries. A significant number of people work in foreign countries, and send remittance to home.
Nepalese concern for Medicine of any form is for: better health, better economy, and better life. The influencing factors of health system in the country are: the intention of developing health services and self-reliance economy, and preservation and development of traditional heritage. International developments also affect to determine the country’s perspective on the model of health systems.
Nepal has been working to improve the existing condition to achieve Millennium Development Goals set by UN. Nepal still depends on other countries for education, health instruments, medicines etc., to a significant level.
Experts recommend Nepal to use Ayurveda, Herbal Resources, Hydropower, Human power, Tourism etc. for socio-economic development.
Ayurveda contributes in health, economy, and in tourism.
Medical systems in the country: People have been practicing Ayurveda in the country from time immemorial. Western medical system is now one of the leading systems. Officially all systems of medicine can be practiced in the country by registered practitioners only. Likewise traditional Baidyas, who have been practicing it from generation to generation, enjoy the right of practicing Ayurveda medicine.
Formal education of Ayurvedic medicine is BAMS, being run by IOM/TU and NSU. BAMS graduates are provided adequate knowledge and skills of Ayurveda and working knowledge of Western medicine. This is as demanded by the BAMS syllabus of Indian Council, CCIM. IOM is set to work ahead for further development of Ayurveda and other medical sciences.
Health Services: Service of any system of medicine is delivered by separate centers. Government is planning further to let all systems flourish and serve the people, giving more emphasis on safety, availability, affordability, and acceptability.
Integrative Medicine in the World: Recently there is growing demand of Integrative Medicine (IM) in the world to address many aspects of health. Many researches also support this model. Understanding among the practitioners of different systems of medicine can help people live healthier and happier. Such developments are being practiced by the doctors of China, USA, Japan, India etc. In these countries doctors of Western system of Medicine can also learn Traditional medicine. They can share/learn from other systems of medicine to let evolution in medical field take place. They have developed government bodies to regulate such systems. Nepalese are also working for researches and knowledge sharing. In recent days some of the health centers of western medicine also include other systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, TCM etc.
Integrative Medicine also means: Integrative medicine is giving importance to all sectors of medicine/health system: prevention and treatment, clinical knowledge and skill, communicable and non-communicable diseases, doctors and patients etc. It also means proper management in health sectors, proper planning and implementation. Other aspects like – Empowerment of health workers and professionals, Cooperation among different specialties, understanding among the specialties/different systems, rational use of clinical knowledge/skill and technology/lab, etc. It is not just to advocate what one knows/learnt, it’s rather to appreciate the bright aspects and possibilities of all form of medicine. It is to avoid unproven blames and claims. It is to develop all systems of medicine regarding them as the human treasure/heritage. It is giving more priorities to health, not to advocate the medicine of a particular company. It is an attempt to come above the pitfalls of existing medical system that tends to make health a commodity to buy and sell.
In case of developing countries, it is the health system not in the interest of the donors, but in the interest of the people. It is not to address one or a few aspects of medicine, rather the whole. It is to work not just for the sake of few people in access, it is to work for all the people including those in remote. It is also to address the health care need of people who can’t pay. It is to make them educated and able for maintenance of primary health, and provide support in the time of need. It is also to address the special need of women, people with psychiatric problems, people with disability etc. It is a part of changing world trend of making people and developing countries more self-dependent, with due respect to their capacity and heritage. An attempt to end the contradictions and misunderstandings!
Health System in Coming Days: Nepal will be working for further researches, knowledge sharing and will head towards integration to some aspects, paving way to a new generation of medicine. For this National and International cooperation may be needed to some extent.
You and IM: The concept of Integrative Medicine is still awaiting adequate debate to be clearly understood, and practiced. However it’s not compulsory till there can be healthy discussion and proper referral for betterment of health and humanity, for not to degrade the environment. The concept of IM has a lot of difficulties and possibilities at the same time. Now it is being understood that health is a goal and systems of medicines are just means to achieve the goal.
WHO recommends use of Traditional medicines as a tool for better health and development of the country, either separately or as IM.
Take Home Message: Health is goal. Different systems are means/tools. Health care system can be further developed well using the medicine in Integrative Model. Researches, Knowledge sharing and dedication are the basic requirements. Its aim is better health and happiness for everyone.
Acknowledgement: Dr. Aseem Baidya, Dr. Surya Upadhyaya, Dr. Vijay Bhurtel
This paper was prepared for Program:
CHINA-NEPAL COOPERATION IN HEALTH AND HEALING: Integrative Medicine: Opportunities and Challenges for Research and Development Cooperation towards a New Global Health Paradigm
Venue: Seminar Hall, Research Department, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, TU, Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: 2068 Kartik 29 / 15th November 2011
Correspondence: Ayurveda Campus, IOM, TU, Email: aseemunlimited.asm@gmail.com
