Stressing the need for evidence-based
validation of Ayurvedic therapies and approaches, Dr D C Katoch, Advisor, Indian
Ministry of Ayush, said the government has initiated various measures for
development of the traditional medicinal system including standardisation,
formation of essential drugs list and extension of insurance coverage.
“The Pharmacopoeia commission has approved
645 medicinal plants and 252 formulations so far as Essential Drug List for
Ayurvedic treatment. For instance an Ayurvedic product like Chavanprash should consist of 48 prescribed
ingredients. Similarly, insurance coverage has been extended to the sector.
Nearly 147 insurance policy schemes by over 27 companies are now available for
AYUSH treatment,” Katoch said during a webinar on the topic ‘Validation and Documentation
in Ayurveda’ held on Saturday.
The virtual session was organised by the
Ayush Valley Foundation in association with the Ayurveda & Health Tourism
Magazine as part of the National webinar Series ‘AYUSHVICHAR’.
The basic issue is reproducibility with
a constant, qualitative outcome. “There lies the importance of validation, an
act/process of making something officially acceptable or approved. We need to
generate a proof of the outcome in terms of efficacy, safety and quality… For
that, scientific documentation of Ayurvedic treatments should happen…The validation
should be done in such a way that it can be understood and translated by experts
from all streams,” he said.
Katoch also called for the
integration of principles of Ayurveda and bio-medicine without losing the vital
fundamentals of both systems.
Bala Prasad IFS, former AYUSH Director,
suggested the establishment of a Research Management Information System by the
ministry so as to update the status of research works and clinical trials of
Ayurvedic drugs and therapies. Renowned Ayurvedic scholar Dr Bhaswati
Bhattacharya pointed out that effective practical knowledge practiced as home
remedies in rural areas go untapped.
Dr Varghese Thomas from the Trans
Disciplinary University, Bangalore, gave a detailed presentation on integrative
treatments being provided by the institution and how the validation and
documentation are being carried out systematically by the innovation-centered
institution.
The webinar was moderated by Dr Madan
Thangavelu, noted Genome Biologist from the University of Cambridge, UK, and
co-hosted by Dr Amrita Nandakumar, Medical Officer, Triveni Nursing Home,
Trivandrum.
