The Kerala State general secretary of the Ayurvedic Medicinal Manufacturers of India (AMMOI) and the executive committee member of the Central Council of Indian Medicine, Dr D Ramanathan, in a representation, urged the Kerala government to start the CCIM’s new Diploma Courses from next academic year.

The course could produce competent Ayurveda specialists in clinical specialities,  facilitate research initiatives and increase practical training of the Ayush doctors in the country.

He pointed out that since Kerala is the hub of Ayurveda, the courses would benefit  graduates and post graduates of ayurvedic medicines (BAMS), especially those working in private and public sectors. According to him, CCIM has introduced 16 such courses which would provide more opportunities for the practitioners of the Indian systems. The colleges which are conducting PG Courses in Ayurveda are eligible to hold these Diploma courses. In Kerala, the facilities of the government colleges and aided colleges can be utilized for this purpose, his letter to the government said.

Apart from catering to the needs of more specialized doctors in the ayurvedic sector, the diploma course would in turn help the teaching institutions to run speciality potential units to attract patients from outside the country. It will produce experts in various specialities for research and development in the field of Ayurveda, for example, dravyaguna, rasashstra, bhaishajya kalpana, etc. On completion of the course, the doctors will get the skills and competence to diagnose and manage the conditions in respective area of specialties, Dr Ramanathan said. CCIM will support the institutions to conduct the courses spanning two years.

The specialties for the PG diploma courses include pancha karma, kshar karma, ayurvedic pharmaceutics, twak roga, ayurvedic dietetics, swasthavritta and yoga, prasuti evum striroga, balroga, ayurvedic pharmacognozy and standardization, mansik swasthya, netra roga vigyan, rasayan & vijikaran, ayurvedic sangyahara, chhaya avum vikiran vigyan, marma avum asthi chikitsa, and rog nidan vidhi.

The nomenclature, the subject of post graduate diploma course and the department under which the subjects are included will be specified in Schedule 1.

A person possessing the degree in ayurvedacharya (BAMS) from a university or board or medical institution specified in the second schedule of the Act will be eligible for admission to the PG Diploma course. The students of the course will be given intensive training in classical knowledge along with comparative and critical study in the respective speciality.