As a solution for the burning issue of shortage of paramedical staff in ayurvedic hospitals in Kerala, the Ayurveda Hospital Management Association (AHMA) has designed an academic programme to mould skilled staff to fill up the lacunae in the traditional health sector.

As part of the programme, the association, with the support of speciality hospitals in Kerala is starting a diploma course approved by National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). The course will be known as Diploma in Ayurveda Nursing and Punchakarma Therapy (ANPT). The duration of the course is one year.

Sources in the association said classes for the first batch of the course will be started on September 2 in five Ayurveda Hospitals in Kerala. AHMA has formed an academic council under the leadership of Prof Dr K G Vidyasagar, retired professor, Ayurveda College Thiruvananthapuram. Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala, Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital, Kootthattukulam, Punarnava Ayurveda Hospital, Ernakulam, Dhathri Ayurveda Hospital, Kayamkulam and Moulana Abdul Rasak Moulavi Hospital, Kozhikodu are the selected hospitals for the academic purpose, said Dr Baby Krishnan, secretary of AHMA.

The syllabus of the course was prepared by an academic sub committee consisting eminent doctors and academicians and got the approval of NCVT. The course will equip the students to manage services of hospital nurses, masseurs and therapists, the secretary told Pharmabiz.

The basic qualification to join the ANPT is a pass in matriculation and the fee is Rs.25,000. For students belonging to SC-ST are eligible to get fee concession. On completion of the course they will be absorbed by the hospitals for the vacancies of nurses and therapists. But, they will not be posted in the vacancies of pharmacists, he added.