The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) has demanded immediate intervention of A K Antony, the defence minister, to push for inclusion and recognition of the Indian traditional system of medicines in the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). This demand was made with a view to ensure that even Ayurveda and other traditional system of medicines are introduced in the Indian AFMS along side allopathic system which has been conspicuously ignored till now.

In the representation that was sent to the ministry on June 13, the association urged to formulate clear guidelines for the inclusion of Ayurveda so that it can be authorised for medical reimbursement by members of the Indian armed forces. The association stressed that to encourage the growth of the ASU industry and to ensure that the patients are not refrained from getting treatment under this segment, the government should take appropriate steps on this issues latest by March 31, 2013.

This demand was made by the AMMOI after it came to know the fact that the members of the Indian armed forces were not reimbursed for treatment done under Indian traditional system of medicine. Surprisingly this act is done in contravention of the central government’s national policy on Indian system of medicines and homoeopathy-2002 which clearly states that all central government employees are eligible for reimbursement under other systems of medicines.

Dr Ramanathan Devaraj Iyer, general secretary of AMMOI, pointed out, “We are very concerned with this attitude which sidelines the importance of this industry that have been ardently practised over centuries in the country. What is more surprising is that there is not even one ASU doctor or hospital set up for the treatment of the patients coming from the Indian armed forces in spite of the demand for ASU treatment.”

Interestingly, even though ASU sector has not been recognised by AFMS till now, it is approved by central government health scheme (CGHS), state government health scheme (SGHS), and by many of the medical insurance companies. It is understood that even the rashtriya swasthya bima yojana (RSBY), a flagship scheme to cover the below poverty line (BPL) citizens of the country under a comprehensive medical insurance scheme is soon expected to cover Ayurveda too. NABH accreditation as applicable for allopathic hospitals is now possible for Ayurveda hospitals too, in fact there are several Ayurveda hospitals that are already NABH accredited in different parts of the country.

Dr Iyer further informed that it is surprising that even though there are over 200,000 professionally qualified ASyurveda doctors in the country and over 10,000 fresh graduates passing out each year, there are not even single ayurvedic doctors appointed under AFMS.

AMMOI in its two point representation stressed that Indian systems of medicine should be streamlined in the AFMS so that the sector is given its due. But most importantly it wants the government to take immediate steps to recruit ASU doctors under AFMS so that they can also get their rightful place to work in AFMS.