What is the current status of homoeopathy in India? Homoeopathic medicine occupies a place of prestige in countries all over the world wherever it is being practiced. Its efficacy is vouched for by its existence and progressive growth from over two hundred years and its ever-growing scope in the service of mankind. In India, it comes as part of the Indian systems of medicines, i.e., Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, which, all put together, is a 100 crore US$ segment. Homoeopathy alone should come to around Rs 380 crore. It has been recognized by all the state governments and has always been considered as an indispensable part of alternative / complimentary medicines in the country. As of now, we have 146 educational institutions from which 7,000 doctors pass out every year. The number of registered practitioners will be about 1,85,000 and the ones that are institutionally qualified 76,000 approximately. We have 8,865 homeopathic dispensaries, 273 hospitals with 6,367-bed strength in the country.
Its acceptance by the government was quite a strenuous but a sustained effort as it had to go through several committees and a battery of meetings like The Homeopathic Enquiry Committee (1948), Committee of the Planning Commission (1951) and Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee (1962), at the official level for the promotion of homoeopathy in the country. The Homoeopathic Central Council Act (1973) and Central Council of Homoeopathy (1974) are also the fruits of such committees and discussions at the government level.
The Central Council of Homoeopathy oversees the Homoeopathic Education; The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy with its 55 research institutes is carrying out basic and advanced research on various diseases. Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL),Ghaziabad monitors the quality control of drugs
Could you brief the history of IIHP and its role in achieving such objectives?
IIHP has been in existence for more than 50 years now. Initially it started as All India Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians. Now, it is like the Indian Medical Association, meant for only institutionally qualified homoeopathic doctors. For the last fifty years, the IIHP has been striving assiduously to promote the study and practice of this system of medicine
in its pristine form. It has provided a forum where Homoeopaths from all parts of the country can come together to share knowledge and understand the successes and difficulties of their fellow practitioners. They learn new developments in the field of education, research, and healthcare and enhance employment avenues for the qualified practitioners.
IIHP originated with the prime objective of consolidating the position of Homoeopathy. It also aims at facilitating exchange of information and research amongst the Homoeopathic fraternity. This organization has been quite successful in implementation of its objectives and continues to provide a platform for homoeopaths and homoeopathy at large. We have
about 10,000 members all over the country. We have five regional and state-wise chapters representing all parts of country. In Andhra Pradesh alone we have about 1500 members.
What are the immediate tasks before the association?
As I have already mentioned, the general objectives of the IIHP are to advance and extend the principles and practice of homoeopathy and improve homoeopathic education. It strives and promotes the honor, dignity and socio-economic status of the homoeopathic profession, and stands for the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of the qualified homoeopathic practitioners.
The IIHP aims at the promotion of friendly feelings amongst all homoeopathic practitioners and also cooperation with different branches of allied medical sciences. It is in our agenda to see that homoeopathic medicine enjoys the status of WHO recognition. As part of all this, we are trying to regulate the practice of homoeopathy, strive for its promotion and try to make it more acceptable and available to general masses. Today we have many homoeo educational institutions in India imparting five-and-half-year undergraduate course and three-year postgraduate courses in various universities in the country. Homoeopathy is enjoying its recognition in almost every state and many state governments are promoting Homoeopathic education too. But there are many colleges, which do not fulfill minimum standards. By encouraging such institutions we are diluting the quality of homoeopathic education. The association has represented the matter to the authorities.
Can you highlight any specific instances of success where the association''s role was crucial in bringing about the change?
This organization has played a very crucial role in initiating the enquiry committee, which resulted in implementing the central council act in the parliament. The founder member of IIHP, Padmashri K G Saxena was the advisor to the Government at that point and he initiated the whole process. From there on this organisation has been periodically contributing to the reforms and changes in the Central Council of Homoeopathy, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, The Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee.
IIHP has regular Bi-annual congresses wherein several subjects of national interest are deliberated and the resolutions are forwarded to the government. Issues such as more beds in the district level hospitals, inclusion of homoeopathic facility in ESI, Railways Hospitals, Public Sectors Undertaking, etc.
All our representations have been given due importance by respective governments. Particularly to mention, The government of Andhra Pradesh has officially accepted the homeopathic preventive protocol for Brain Fever [Japanese Encephalitis], a scourge since 1975 in the state. Instead of importing vaccines, which are prohibitively costly, they are now using our medicines. It happened because we, at the association level, were able to make the public as well as the government aware of the effectiveness of Homoeopathy. The association, which joined hands with many Social, Non- Governmental Organizations and other non-profit organizations to conduct medical camps, did a good job in popularizing
this protocol. The role played by individual doctors was also equally important. It has taken us about 10 years to establish this protocol.
In fact, we have, as part of the resolution of one of our national congresses, submitted this protocol to the Central Government too which is under its consideration. However we would like to acknowledge that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been dynamic in taking a bold initiative by introducing the homeopathic preventive protocol for Brain Fever [Japanese Encephalitis]
Keeping apart these success stories, how effective is the homoeopathic system when compared to other systems of medicine?
It need not be seen that way. In the area of preventive medicine, homoeopathic system of medicine has much to contribute. By working together with other systems of medicine, we can achieve much more than what we can do independently. Other aspect is the economics part of the treatment. Homoeopathy is not at all expensive when compared to other systems of medicine and could prove ideal for an economically developing country like India. Even in the field of viral hepatitis and HIV we feel that homoeopathy will have a positive and definite role to play. It is unfortunate that the government is not taking much notice about the achievements made by homoeo doctors in the rural regions. There should be some way to validate this.
Are there any attempts at the official level to initiate basic research in homoeopathy? Is it adequate?
Yes! but it is not at all sufficient. In Mumbai and New Delhi, for instance, the Central Council for Homoeopathic Research is working on HIV and viral hepatitis funded by WHO. The findings have been published in various journals. They have initiated some work but more can be done. What has to be done is a genuine attempt to validate the claims of individual private practitioners doing similar work. We should do more to disseminate the findings among private practitioners and involve them in getting the feedback. Lot of individual researchers are working on homoeopathic medicines, methodology, processes new drugs, etc, unfortunately there is no streamlining of such information though we try to do this from our platform, the government must take a lead in encouraging the work and harness the talent.
Do you place homoeopathy as a complimentary system or as an alternative system?
The alternative system is considered a system which can virtually replace the existing system. Complimentary system on the other hand is a system which compliments the existing system without replacing it. In the case of homoeopathy, it can very well qualify as an alternative system, however the need of the hour is not one single system but a careful integration of all possible and proven methods. In fact, the gamut of homoeopathy and its reach in treating human ailment is very large. Even after 20 years of practice I find that I have a lot more to discover. Such is the magnitude of its scope.
Again there is a misconception about its slow effect on the body. There is nothing like a slow action. It is because people do not understand the concept ofhealth and disease properly. Homoeopathy heals permanently. It has a holistic approach towards disease. In homoeopathy, like any other holistic healing system, for a complete cure the trinity must work in synergy, i.e. The Physician - The Medication - The Patient. It is not just the skill of the Physician and the quality of medication but also a thorough participation of the patient in his healing is very important.
How big is the homoeopathy medicine industry in India? Is there any potential for export?
There are a lot of reputed manufacturers in the country, pretty old and well experienced whose turnover probably accounts for 75% of the homoeopathic market segment and the rest is from imports. Until 15 to 20 years back we were importing a lot of medicines. Now MNCs are also in the picture and they, with their good production facilities and quality standards, have increased the awareness amongst the domestic manufacturers the importance of quality assurance. One of the potential export areas for Indian products is Malaysia and Latin American countries. We are not able make any inroads into Europe yet because drug regulations are very strict in European markets. But our strength is Intellect, Indian homoeopathic intellect is by and large the best and most effective. India has probably produced the largest number of academicians in homoeopathy.
However, trade and trade practices are not a focus area of IIHP.At present we are focusing on education, academics and certain regulatory requirements in the Indian context. The financial and business part of homoeopathy is taken up by trade organizations, though they are very small and are in the nascent stages when compared to us. The homoeopathic drug sector in the country is not at all regulated. We have been repeatedly representing to the government to take some interest in that area. Basically the Indian homoeopathic market is about Rs 380 crore. Its growth rate is probably 3 to 5 %. As you can see, it is not much for any industrial or government sector to take so much of an nterest. But what they are missing out on is the potential scope and the margins.
What about the quality of medicines? Are companies interested in complying with the new GMP regulations?
Regulations are there, but the enforcing part is still very weak in our country. There are posts for drug inspectors and separate departments to enforce the laws. But it is not filled due to the paltry budget allocated for homoeopathy. Homoeopathy Department as such is not getting anything. We have to go all out for our share in the budget allocated to the Indian System of Medicine. After a lot of representations, we now have a separate directorate for homoeopathy at Centre. Now the department is there. It is up to them to plan things. Let us see how it works out. Now, it is under such critical conditions and times that we feel the Government has to involve the Organizations like IIHP, which represents the cross section of Homoeopathic fraternity for better planning and implementation.
You said promotion of education and research is high on IIHP agenda. Can you elaborate?
We are doing well on the continuing medical education front. All our units organize monthly CME programs or State level seminars periodically all over the country. Coming to the basic research, we are yet to come out with something concrete. Till date, it is only Europe that has made inroads into research. The advantage they have is because of their advanced facilities both at government and corporate level. A lot of manufacturing units are promoting and encouraging basic research in Europe, it''s virtually a ritual with them.Unfortunately we don''t have that kind of budgeting happening here in the corporate sectors.
What are the hurdles before you? What facilities do you need? How are you planning to tackle this problem?
The first two points in the agenda of our organization for the current year itself is education and fundamental research. In order to give a thrust to research, we are requesting expert opinion from all parts of the country and also trying to understand what are the things that we need to focus, like the physical outlay and the budget allocation etc., which we want to take it up as an important item in the agenda of our next conference.
We are also trying to gather information from our European and Australian counterparts about the research procedures. If there is a proper direction, companies will come forward to support our initiatives. The third objective for the year is the formation of a Calamity committee. Calamities, both natural and man made, are frequent in our country. We want to develop a system where in we can rush and provide the right medication. There has to be a financial outlay also for such things. It could be a natural disaster, an epidemic or anything. We are to discuss this matter when we meet in November. We are expecting concrete results out of it. In the next three to six months we should have some definite protocols in this regard.
When coming to the practical difficulties, we still feel that the qualified doctors should confine to pure classical homoeopathy in India. It is the most economical way of treatment. There are a lot of people who still trust indigenous and alternative medicines in our country. We have to penetrate more into these segments. Today students opt for homoeopathy after knowing its potential and significance. In that way we have a dedicated generation of doctors today. IIHP should motivate them and thereby spread the reach of the system