Indian Clinical Establishments (Registration & Regulation) Bill gets Cabinet nod

Monday, February 1, 2010

Monday, February 01, 2010 08:00 IST
Ramesh Shankar, Mumbai

The much-delayed ‘Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill' will be introduced in the budget session of Parliament as the Centre has approved the proposal of the Union Health Ministry in this regard. The Bill, which has been pending for several years, aims to bring in uniformity in the healthcare delivery sector by making the registration of all clinical establishments mandatory and prescribing enhanced penalty for the defaulters. The next session of Parliament is expected to commence in the last week of February.

The Union cabinet in its meeting recently has approved the proposal of the health ministry for the introduction of the Bill in order to achieve the mandate of Article 47 of the Constitution for improvement in public health. Once the Bill gets the approval of Parliament, initially the law will come into effect in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim and all union territories. It is expected that other states would also adopt this legislation later.

The Bill was to be introduced in the last session of Parliament and in fact it was also included in the legislative business prepared for the last session, but the health ministry could not complete the procedures for the introduction of the Bill.

The main purpose of the law is to provide a legislative framework for the registration and regulation of clinical establishments in the country and also seeks to improve the quality of health services through the National Council for Standards by prescribing minimum standards of facilities and services which may be provided by them. This would permit categorization and classification of different clinical establishments depending on their geographical location as well as services offered. It will also initiate the process for the creation of a national registry of clinical establishments existing in the country.

Even though several states have already enacted laws for regulating health care providers, the general perception is that current regulatory process for healthcare providers in India is inadequate or not responsive to ensure health care services of acceptable quality and prevent negligence.

Presenlty, the supervision and regulation of the quality of services provided by the health care delivery system to the people by both public and private sectors has largely remained a contentious matter and therefore, unresolved issue. The current structure of the healthcare delivery system does not provide enough incentives for improvement in efficiency. The private sector health care delivery system in India has remained largely unregulated and uncontrolled. Problems range from inadequate and inappropriate treatment, excessive use of higher technologies, wastage of scarce resources and problems of medical malpractice and negligence.

Once the law comes into effect, all the clinical establishments in the country have to follow the mandatory registration. As per the Bill, clinical establishment would include hospitals, maternity home, nursing home, dispensary, clinics and similar facilities with beds that offer diagnosis, treatment or care for illness or injury or pregnancy in any recognised system of medicine (Allopathy, Yoga, Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha and Unani). It also includes any laboratory (either established as independent entity or part of an establishment) which offers pathological, bacteriological, genetic, radiological, chemical, biological and other diagnostic or investigative services. Furthermore, the establishment can be owned by the government or department of the government, a Trust (public or private), a corporation (including a cooperative society), a local authority and a single doctor establishment.

Source: PharmaBiz

India Sweden MOU : Indo-Swedish Health Week

INDIA TO OFFER EXPERTISE IN YOGA AND GENERIC DRUGS

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19:39 IST











The Indo Swedish week, to commemorate the first anniversary of the signing of the MoU between the two countries,is being observed from 1-5 th February. Ms. Maria Larsson, Hon’ble Minister of Elderly Care and Public Health, Government of the Kingdom of Sweden would leading a delegation.She would also be accompanied by Ms. Karin Johansson, State Secretary to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs,and around 70 delegates from Sweden. The health week would be inaugurated jointly by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Swedish Minister on Monday .

The two countries have their traditional strengths which they would like to share. India would like to offer its expertise in traditional medicines like yoga and ayurveda as well as good quality and cheap generic drugs; while Sweden would like to offer its expertise in the field of diagnostics and medical education.

The two countries have identifed common areas of collaboration for which thematic workshops in six fields viz antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, medical research, health policy research, alcohol policy and adolescent health is being organised at the National Institute of Health and family Wellfare on the 2nd February. Activities for the week are planned at Hyderabad, Bangaluru and Mumbai.

Source: PIB India

Ayurveda medicine for Swine Flu- Research result

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Chennai-based RRF launches Ayurveda remedy for swine flu 'Ayusrem'
Thursday, January 28, 2010 08:00 IST
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai


The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the Union Territory of Pondicherry has granted licence to Chennai-based Ramoni Research Foundation (RRF), an institute conducting research in Ayurveda medicines, to manufacture and market an Ayurvedic antiviral medication Ayusrem, which is a potential drug to prevent and treat H1N1.

The scientists at the foundation claimed that the drug is a potential choice to prevent and treat H1N1 flu and will prove to be a boon to the people as it is being launched at a time when the entire world is stepping up efforts to tackle the H1N1 pandemic. According to the scientists, the drug is made of extracts from anti-viral plants and antipyretic plants like Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma Longa and Vetiveria zizanioides. Extracts of Immunomodulant plants like Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrum have also been included. The Analgesic ingredients in the formulation are from Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale and Cyperus rotundus.

Claiming that the herbal product can contain the spread of swine flu and other strains of viruses, RRF has written to the Department of Ayush to take measures to evaluate the effect of medicinal plants and formulations for antiviral activity. The letter says that the potential of medicinal plants is well known for their antiviral activity and the Herbal Sciences Department of the Madras University has initiated several studies on it. The Centre has generated scientific data on 130 plants so far, which will help millions of sufferers of virus diseases, the scientists told Pharmabiz.

The foundation hopes that the permission by the US FDA will reap results in a way that it will help RRF to penetrate into the huge Indian Ayurvedic market and the growing global market of Ayurvedic products when viral diseases are spreading alarmingly and taking lives across the world. RRF’s Ayusrem is the outcome of a joint venture with the Herbal Science Research Centre of Madras University.


The scientists in the foundation said US FDA in Pondicherry is the first regulatory authority to certify and approve the drug for sales after its invention by Chennai based institutes six months ago. The inventors of the remedy have claimed that within this short span of time, the medicine could cure various kinds of viral diseases of about 2000 people including those affected with A H1N1 viruses.

RRF has invented the medicine Ayusrem, after years of researches associating with the Centre for Herbal Sciences at the University of Madras. When the drug was launched in September last year, it was a formulation of Ayurveda and Siddha preparations. Later, the formulation was completely restricted in Ayurvedic method only, said the inventors of the product, Dr K Balasubrahmaniam and professor Dr A Raaman.

Last week, in a function organized in Pondicherry Lt Governor Dr Iqbal Singh inaugurated the official launching of the medicine by handing over a strip of 10 tablets of Ayusrem to the Health & Family Welfare Minister E Valasaraj. Public health minister A Namasivayam was also present on the occasion.

After the invention of Ayusrem, Ramoni Research Foundation has bagged three Awards of Excellence. National Citizen Excellence Award from Intellectual People and Economic Growth Association, New Delhi for Outstanding Contribution, International Achievers Award for invention of Ayusrem by International Achievers Forum, Thailand, and Bharath Gaurav Award from India International Friendship Society for meritorious services.

D Balasubrahmaniam, the chairman of the foundation said RRF has signed an agreement with Pondicherry based Dr Milton’s Laboratories to manufacture the drug and inked another contract with Chennai-based Berjayaa Marketing Private Ltd for domestic marketing. They have also signed certain pacts with Leonex Systems of Malaysia to market the Ayurvedic antiviral remedy.

Source: PhamaBiz

Journey of Ayurveda - Milestones in the development

Sunday, January 17, 2010

• Divine origin of Ayurveda from Lord Brahma - Dates back to origin of human race

• Mention of various references on Health, Diseases and Medicinal Plants in Rig-veda and Atharv-veda -5000 BC

• Origin of Attreya and Dhanwantari School of Ayurveda -1000 BC

• Documentation of Charaka Samhita - 600 BC

• Documentation of Sushruta Samhita- 500 BC

• Advent of Muslim Rulers and start of the Decline of Ayurveda - 1100 to 1800

• Resurrection of Ayurvedic system of Medicine under the rule of Peshwas. - 1800 AD

• Classes in Ayurvedic medicine opened in Government Sanskrit College, Calcutta - 1827

• Discontinuation of classes in Government Sanskrit College by British - 1833

• Dr. Komar Commission (one-man commission) to make investigation in indigenous system of medicine - 1917

• Indian National Congress Convention at Nagpur recommended acceptance of Ayurvedic system of medicine as India's National Health Care System - 1920

• Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College in Delhi - 1921

• Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya established Ayurveda college in B. H.U., Varanasi - 1927

• Enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act for Ayurvedic/Siddha/Unani medicines - 1940

• Bhora Committee or Health Survey and Development Committee recognised past services of indigenous medicines but failed to recommend for its further development. - 1943

• Chopra Committee recommended systems of old and modern systems of medicines to evolve a common system of medicine. - 1946

• Pharmaceutical Enquiry Committee headed by Dr. Bhatia, for intensive research in indigenous drugs of Ayurveda. - 1953

• Recommendation of Dave Committee for uniform standards of Ayurveda education - 1955

• Establishment of Institute of Post-Graduate Training and Research in Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar, Gujarat - 1956 to 1957

• Udupa Committee set up. It recommended that there is a need for integrated system of medicine and a training course in Siddha and Ayurveda - 1958



• Establishment of Post Graduate Institute of Ayurveda at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - 1963 to 1964

• Amendment of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for Indian systems of medicines/drugs - 1964

• Establishment of Central Board of Siddha and Ayurvedic Education - 1964 to 1965

• Setting up of an apex Research Body for Indian medicine & Homoeopathy, 'Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (CCRIMH)' - 1969

• Establishment of Pharmacopoeia Laboratory for Indian medicine, Ghaziabad, U.P. - 1970

• Constitution of Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) under IMCC Act - 1970

• Establishment of National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan - 1972 to 1973

• Publication of Part-I of Ayurvedic formulary containing 444 preparations - 1976

• Establishment of Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) - 1978

• Passing of Amended Drugs and Cosmetics Act regulating import/export of Indian Systems of Medicine - 1982

• Setting up of Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd. in Mohan, Almora Distt., Uttaranchal. - 1983

• Silver Jubilee function of Jawaharlal Nehru Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Garden and Harbarium, Pune. Inaugurated by Shri R. Venkataraman, Vice-president of India . - 1986

• Second World Conference on Yoga & Ayurveda held at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - 1986

• Foundation stone of Jawaharlal Nehru Anusandhan Bhawan, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi by Hon'ble Vice President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma - 1988

• Establishment of National Academy of Ayurveda (Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth) - 1989

• Creation of separate Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy in Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India - 1995

• Introduction of Extra mural Research Programme for accredited organizations with central assistance - 1996

• Implementation of Central Scheme in 33 organizations for development of agro-techniques of important medicinal plants - 1997

• Maiden participation of Ayurveda alongwith other systems in India International Trade Fair - 1998

• Implementation of Central Scheme in 32 laboratories for developing pharmacopoeial standards of Medicinal Plants/ ISM Formualations - 1998

• Establishment of specialty clinic of Ayurveda in Central Govt. Hospital (Safdarjung Hospital) New Delhi - 1998

• Implementation of IEC( Information, Education & Communication) Scheme for NGOs for propagation and popularization of Ayurveda & other systems - 1998 to 1999

• Participation in Mystique India ( Exhibition cum fair on Indian Traditions) - 1997 to 1999

• Introduction of Vanaspati Van Scheme for large scale cultivation of Medicinal Plants - 1999

• Inauguration of Ayurveda conference at Newyork, USA by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee - 2000

• Gazette Notification for constitution of Medicinal Plant Board under the Deptt. of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy - 2000

• Publication of 2nd volume of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia - 2000

• Introduction 7 of Ayurvedic Medicines in RCH Programme - 2000

• Constitution of Advisory group for research in Ayurveda - 2000

• Policy Decision on mainstreaming of Ayurveda in RCH programme as per National Population Policy - 2000

• Implementation of Central Scheme of assistance for strengthening of State Drug Testing Laborites and Pharmacies - 2000 to 2001

• Publication of 3rd volume of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia - 2001

• Publication of English edition of 2nd volume of Ayurvedic Formulary of India - 2001

• Maiden participation of ISM tableau on Republic Day - 2001

• Exhibition and presentation of Ayurveda during World Health Assembly, Geneva - 2001

• Presentation on evidence based support by Deptt. of ISM&H before House of Lords, U.K. against Sir Walton Committee's Report on status and nomenclature of Ayurveda among Complementary and Alternative systems of Medicine - 2001

• Participation of Dept. in "Made in India" exhibition organized by CII in South Africa - 2001
 
Source: Department of Ayurveda, Government of India

Ayurveda info - nice article from onlineGK

Sunday, January 3, 2010

What is ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a system of Indian medicine now practiced all over the world as a complementary system. Ayurvedic practitioners have identified a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases, not completely curable in other systems. Many of its methods-such as herbs and massage, can be applied along with other systems, too

Ayurveda in India

Ayurveda in India-the science of life, the origin of most forms of natural and alternative medicine-has its mention in one of the oldest (about 6,000 years) philosophical texts of the world, the Rig Veda. The Sutrasthana of Charaka Samhita, a much referred ayurvedic text, says; “The three-body, mind and soul-are like a tripod, the world stand by their combination; in them everything abides. It is the subject matter of ayurveda for which the teachings of ayurveda have been revealed.”



In its broader scope, ayurveda in India has always sought to prepare mankind for the realization of the full potential of its self through a psychosomatic integration. A comprehensive health care is what this natural and alternative medicine prescribes for the ultimate self-realization.

“Life (ayu) is the combination (samyoga) of body, senses, mind and reincarnating soul. Ayurvedic is the most sacred science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world and the world beyond.” -Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana.

The verses of Rig Veda, the earliest source of ayurvedic, refer to panchamahabhut (five basic elements of the entire creation), and the three doshas or primary forces of prana or vata (air), agni or pitta (fire) and soma or kapha (water and earth) as comprising the basic principles of ayurvedic. One branch of Indian philosophy-Sankhya states that there are 24 elements, all of which constitute the foundation of the gross world: earth, water, fire, air and ether. These five elements in different combinations constitute the three body types/doshas-vata dosha (air and ether), pitta dosha (fire) and kapha dosha (earth and water). The panchamahabhut and the dosha theories are the guiding factors of ayurvedic as a therapeutic science. The Rig Veda also mentions organ transplants and herbal remedies called soma with properties of elixir.

This science or knowledge of healing, as mentioned in the Rig Veda, was revealed to Rishi Bharadvaja from the great Cosmic Intelligence. The knowledge consists of three aspects known as the Tri-Sutras of ayurvedic, which are-etiology or the science of the causes of disease, symptomatology or the study and interpretation of symptoms and medication and herbal remedies. Approximately, during 4,000 to 3,000 BC, Sam Veda and Yajur Veda, the second and third Vedas came into being. Chanting of mantras and performance of rituals were, respectively, dealt in these two Vedas. And, during 3,000 to 2,000 BC Atharva the fourth Veda was authored, of which ayurvedic is an upaveda (subsection). Though it had been practiced all along, it was around this time that ayurvedic in India, was codified from the oral tradition to book form, as an independent science. It enlists eight branches/divisions of ayurvedic: Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine), Shalakya Tantra (surgery and treatment of head and neck, Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology), Shalya Tantra (Surgery), Agada Tantra (Toxicology), Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry), Kaumarabhritya (Pediatrics), Rasayana (science of rejuvenation or anti-aging), and Vajikarana (the science of fertility). The oldest treatise available on this codified version is Atreya Samhita.

The most fascinating aspect of ayurvedic is, it was using almost all methods of healing like lifestyle regimen, yoga, aroma, meditation, gems, amulets, herbs, diet, jyotishi (astrology), color and surgery etc. in treating patients. Though ayurvedic came into being as an independent upaveda of Atharva Veda, it has close links with other Vedas also. The Yajur Veda, which recommends rituals to pacify the panchamahabhuts in a view to heal both the Cosmic Being and the individual soul, is related to ayurvedic in its principles and regulations of lifestyle. The upaveda called Dhanur Veda or the martial arts and ayurvedic both refer to each other in the treatment of marmas or sensitive points in the body. Ayurvedic recommends specific ayurvedic massages, exercises and bodywork for this purpose.

Around 15,00 BC ayurvedic was delineated into to two distinct schools: Atreya-The School of Physicians, and Dhanvantari-The School of Surgeons. This made ayurvedic a more systematically classified medical science, hereafter. Dhanvantari, who is considered to be a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, was the guiding sage of ayurvedic. He made this science of health and longevity popular and widely acceptable. In fact, these two schools of thought led to the writing of two major books on ayurveda-Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita.

These two Samhitas were written in the early part of 1000 BC. The great sage- physician Charaka authored Charaka Samhita revising and supplementing the text written by Atreya, which has remained the most referred ayurvedic text on internal medicine till date. Susruta, following the Dhanvantari School of Thought, wrote Susruta Samhita, comprising the knowledge about prosthetic surgery to replace limbs, cosmetic surgery, caesarian operations and even brain surgery. He is famed for his innovation of cosmetic surgery on nose or rhinoplasty. Around 500 AD, Vagbhatt compiled the third major treatise on ayurvedic, Astanga Hridaya. It contained knowledge comprising the two schools of ayurvedic.

From 500 AD to 1900 AD, sixteen major Nighantus or supplementary texts on ayurvedic like Dhanvantari Bhavaprakasha, Raja and Shaligram among others were written incorporating new drugs, expansion in applications, discarding of old drugs and identification of substitutes. These texts mention about 1814 varieties of plants in vogue.

Evidences show that ayurvedic had nurtured almost all the medical systems of the world. The Egyptians learnt about ayurvedic long before the invasion of Alexander in the 4th century BC through their sea-trade with India. Greeks and Romans come to know about it after the famous invasion. The Unani form of medical tradition came out of this interaction. In the early part of the first millennium ayurvedic spread to the East through Buddhism and greatly influenced the Tibetan and Chinese system of medicine and herbology. Around 323 BC, Nagarjuna, the great monastic of Mahayana Buddhism and an authority on ayurvedic had written a review on Susruta Samhita. In 800 AD ayurvedic was translated into Arabic. The two Islamic physicians Avicenna and Razi Serapion, who helped form the European tradition of medicine, strictly followed ayurvedic. Even, Paracelsus, considered to be the father of the modern western medicine toed the line of ayurvedic, as well.

In the postmodern age, the popularity of this vibrant tradition of ayurvedic lies in its, subtle yet scientific, approach to heal a person in its totality. It aims, not only at healing the body, but also the mind and spirit, at one go. Its unique understanding of the similarities of natural law and the working of human body, as well as its holistic treatment methods, help it to strike a balance between the two. This gives ayurvedic an edge over other healing systems. Perhaps that’s the reason behind ayurvedic being the longest unbroken medical tradition in the world, today.

Source: onlineGK