Abstract

BENEFITS OF GETTING BRIDGE COURSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND AYURVEDIC DOCTORS

Neha Rawat, Rakesh Roushan*

Abstract

AYUSH and Modern Systems of Medicine have distinct approaches and methods of practice. Since so many years Ayurvedic Doctors are studying integrated medicine as per syllabi i.e., Ayurvedic medicine and Modern medicine then there should not be so much controversies needed for allowing the bridge course to be passed. Bridge course should be introduced for all the ayurvedic practitioners who are studying or practising integrated medicine. A parliamentary panel had been entrusted to review the new National Medical Commission Bill on healthcare in India. The government scrap its proposal for a bridge course to allow AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) practitioners to practice modern medicine. However, while approving the amendments in the NMC Bill, it was left to the state governments to take necessary measures for addressing and promoting primary healthcare in rural areas. As a result, despite dropping the bridge course from the NMC Bill, the decision has been left to the states. In fact, many states have already allowed AYUSH doctors appointed in Primary Health Centres in rural areas to practice modern medicine during „emergencies‟. Presently 13 states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and Uttaranchal have made this legal. If many states are allowing and using this dynamic opportunity to maintain the equilibrium of population and doctors in the country. This bridge course will not only benefit ayurvedic doctors but also give benefit to patients so that they can get the best health care management in rural area.

Keywords: AYUSH, Bridge course, NMC Bill, Integrated medicine, Emergencies.