Ayurveda physicians demand role in health policy

The Ayurveda Medical Association of India has said the draft state health policy only dealt with only modern medicine and did not give any idea about the role other medical systems, including Ayurveda and demanded adequate representation for it in the policy.
In a letter to Health Minister V S Sivakumar, Association general secretary Rejith Ananad said the policy was silent on the 'co-location' of Ayurveda systems in Primary Health Centres, community health centres and district hospitals.
The 'co-location' system has been introduced in many states, including neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
"We earnestly hope that the government would not allow any one medical system to dominate and control the health sector and ensure that all good elements from each system is included in the policy," the letter said.

AMAI also demanded that the draft policy should include provisions to set up a comprehensive research centre for Ayurveda.