The Indian Medicine and Homeopathy Department (IM&HD) has written to the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a special committee for control and research in AIDS under the Indian System of Medicine to enable for integration of six Indian systems of medicines and allopathic system of medicine for control and research in AIDS.

Confirming the above to Pharmabiz.com, P.Rama Mohan Rao, director, IM&HD maintained that his department has requested the state government to constitute such a committee so as to enable for the integration of the two systems of medicine and thereby giving prominence to the Indian system of medicine.

"There are many institutions currently undertaking treatment of AIDS using Siddha system and have had good findings. However, the same has not been given much prominence. The special committee shall undertake the task of spreading the findings to enable for such an integration in the entire state involving the individual practitioners and institutions", Rao said.

He said that the special committee would also undertake the task of implementing the integration programmes in centers where either Siddha medicine system or allopathic system of medicine is being followed for treatment of AIDS. "The committee will bring about the integration in such centres," he said. The committee will seek the help of non-government organization (NGO) and also the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TNSACS) to oversee the implementation of such integration. Rao maintained that the latter has already conveyed its willingness of extending help in this regard. The same was also confirmed by Dr.Gopal, director, TNSACS.

Names of Dr.N.M.Sameul, professor, Experimental Medicine Department, The Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University; Dr.A.M.Faisuddin Ahmed and Dr.S.Allapitchai, both deputy directors, AIDS & Cancer Research Unit, Chennai; K.Venkataramanan, editor, Mooliagamanni magazine; Dr.Chandra Prabha, director, Kings Institute of Preventive Medicne, Chennai and Dr.C.N.Devanayagam, superintendent, Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Chennai have been recommened to be included in the special committee. The Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu is to be the chairman of the committee while Rama Mohan Rao would be the convenor if the committee is constituted that is.

The IM&HD is already imparting training to some personnel in the Siddha and Unani systems of medicine, through Rs.4 lakh aid from the TNSACS and Rs.4-5 lakh from UNICEF, and Rao maintained that these personnel would be involved in the integration programme.