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Uniform Civil Code and AYUSH - Are we progressive or regressive?
Highlights
ur nation is getting ready for debate and discussion on uniform civil code (UCC). Many political parties have made their position partially or fully clear about UCC.
ur nation is getting ready for debate and discussion on uniform civil code (UCC). Many political parties have made their position partially or fully clear about UCC.
When our country gallops towards digital age, E and M governance, the personal laws of different religions also require reform and harmonization. The civil society will not object to it. But much before UCC, we need to remove many regressive practices and belief systems from our country.
Uniform drug definition and uniform health practices as accepted globally, we must implement in our nation. Interestingly many from the Government have quoted USA to support their argument in favour of UCC. Even when US support and respect diverse religions, ethnicity and cultural practices, all citizens in US are covered under UCC.
The question is why we are so selective in our reforms?
When we cite US as an example for UCC, why don’t we follow the definition of drugs of US FDA? US FDA does not recognize the unscientific, faith based medical system? They regularly warn the citizens not to adventure traditional products for treating diseases. They regularly test the traditional products and serve warnings about the metal toxicity in those products. Many AYUSH products exported to US have got black listed by US.
But why we do not refer or follow the norms of US FDA? All AYUSH products in US are listed under medication health fraud.
Why we promote and popularize AYUSH as sacred medical science and keep producing ISM graduates as doctors? When we proudly reminisce the 5000 year old tradition and legacy of AYUSH, do we have a single product from AYUSH we can proudly claim as ‘drug’ as per global standard?
Can we ever apply any of the diagnostic procedures of AYUSH as scientific, objective and accurate in diagnosing the disease? Can the Tridosha concept scientifically validated and proven?
If all the above were true, then why large number of ISM vaidyas engage in cross pathy? Why CCIM is requesting the MH&FW for bridge course for ISM graduates to prescribe allopathic drugs for most common diseases in rural areas? Does it not expose the absolute truth that AYUSH does not have a single product even for the most common health problem? When MH&FW trying to use the service of large number of AYUSH vaidyas to meet the shortage of allopathic doctors in rural service, does it not clearly establish the absolute uselessness of AYUSH as medical science with curative value?
Are we not selectively progressive and selectively regressive in our reforms?
Which disease we can cure with AYUSH product? Which AYUSH product if administered along with an allopathic drug, the prognosis is faster to call AYUSH as complimentary medicine? Where is the scientific proof?
While promoting AYUSH as wonderful system of medicine, are we not making mountain out of mole hill? Are we not taking science, scientific tenets and innocent people in rural India for a big ride?
Are we showing our patriotism and statesmanship when we propose to legalize the corss pathy and quackery (granting permission to AYUSH vaidyas to practice allopathic drugs) and gifting such hybrid doctors to rural India?
The point is not about abandoning AYUH. But what is the logic and rationale in promoting ISM as system of medicine? What is the rationale in producing large number of ISM graduates in the name of medical doctors?
Let us look at the absolute irony and paradox. The states that produce large number of AYUSH graduates stay far behind in health reforms and best health delivery system when compared to states like Tamil Nadu that produce least number AYUSH graduates. The health care delivery system in Tamil Nadu stands top in India.
AYUSH as a system is utter failure. The two surveys of NSSO prove the above. Now we are attempting to utilize the service of large number of AYUSH graduates from such failed system to meet the shortages of allopathic doctors in rural India by legalizing cross pathy and quackery.
Where is our patriotic instinct? When we show so much of progressive approaches in reforming the personal laws of different religions and wish to bring UCC, why we are so different in dealing AYUSH?
Should we not first declare AYUSH as paramedical wellness based practices and stop promoting it as system of medicine? Should we not divert the budget allocated for AYUSH to introduce more number of medical colleges to produce more allopathic doctors?
Instead of producing more and more AYUSH graduates and promoting AYUSH as system of medicine, should we not pump resource to do intense research in AYUSH like how China is doing?
Knowing fully well about the limited to no value of AYUSH as curative system, starting AYUSH institutions equivalent to AIIMS in different part of India, ever wll serve anything great to our health care system?
If the belief of people is to be taken as an evidence for AYUSH, then many superstitious belief systems that thrive in our society also deserve national status and recognition. Can the Government afford to give legal sanctity to all those superstitious belief systems and practices?
Even today, some people visit witchcrafts and priests/mullah to cure their ailments. In some rare instances, some would even find relief. Therefore can we promote witchcraft and priest/mullah’s treatment as wonderful medical science?
When we discuss about UCC, should we not engage seriously to discuss about uniform drug definition, uniform and scientifically approved methods of treatments etc.
In such debate and discussion, where will we fit cow urine, cow dung, cat urine, donkey urine etc., in treating human diseases? What scientific justification Ministry of AYUSH would give for using toxic metals like lead, mercury, arsenic etc., as drugs by AYUSH? What compensation the Ministry of AYUSH would give to those who develop toxicity due to the above metal based ISM products?
When we show our concern over reforming the personal laws in different religions that affects adversely the civility and social justice, should we not equally recognize the health hazard, distortion of early diagnosis of the diseases, wrong treatment and prolonged suffering etc., in rural India due to AYUSH?
When we refer USA for UCC, why we fail to follow US FDA definition for drugs and how US respect, value, merit and recognize AYUSH and other allied systems?
US treat AYUSH only for paramedical and palliative (massage) purposes and the service AYUSH graduates are allowed only to fill the role of midwifes.
We need to wakeup from our self imposed sleep. Let us respect and value AYUSH not as medical system but as wellness based paramedical practice.
S Ranganathan
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