Graduates in siddha medical sciences in Kerala are in trouble due to lack of facilities for doing post graduate courses in the system, thanks to the apathy of the state government to start one medical college for the traditional medical system of the country.

Although there are over 600 students pass out as siddha graduates (BSMS) in Kerala at present,  only one out of these graduates could do the post graduate course (MD siddha) during last 13 years. A private institution in Thiruvananthapuram district started the course in the year 2004. Dr. Jijimol, the first and only one PG holder in siddha in Kerala had done her course in the national institute of siddha (NIS) at Tambaram in Tamil Nadu two years ago.

Kerala is the only state where siddha system is taught in English language. In Tamil Nadu the course syllabus is in Tamil and it often becomes a bottleneck for institutions in other states to run the course.

Currently, six siddha graduates from Kerala are doing their PGs in the NIS and one service candidate is doing higher study at the government siddha medical college at Annanagar.

Many a time, several associations of siddha graduates in Kerala have given representations to the state government with requests to start one siddha medical college. Once the government takes such a step, the graduates in the system can do their post graduate courses in Kerala itself. There is only one seat reserved for students from other states for PG course in the government colleges in Tamil Nadu. Students who seek admission for PG courses have to apply to the national institute at Tambaram where the number of seats for PG is very less.

Dr V A Rahul, an EC member of the Siddha Medical Association of India (SMAI), who is doing PG in NIS, said the government of Kerala can develop and upgrade the government siddha hospital at Vallkadavu in Thiruvananthapuram into the level of a medical college so as to promote the Indian system and the native siddha graduates. Hailing the government for starting separate siddha wings in seven district ayurveda hospitals, he said though a two storied building has been built for a siddha hospital in Alappuzha, it has not been opened for the public yet.

He has alleged that the siddha medical graduates association in Tamil Nadu (ISMGA) is not supporting the graduates of siddha from Kerala. But Kerala is the only state where siddha is taught in English language which helps the system to grow in international level. If the system is to be promoted to national or international level, only the graduates and post graduates of siddha from Kerala should strive for it, he added.

Although two government colleges in Tamil Nadu have PG courses and Ph D programs, very few seats are allotted for these two programs. This year the research work will be halted owing to complete failure in the eligibility test conducted by ayush ministry for award for fellowship. The siddha post graduates from Tamil Nadu lack standard in English language. The private institutions are conducting only degree course. The two government institutions (Palayamkottai and Annanagar in Chennai) are conducting research program in siddha.

Dr. Rahul said if the government of Kerala takes steps to start one siddha medical college, it will help more students from the state to study the traditional system and the graduates will have chances for higher study and research in siddha. To a question he said the ayurveda community in Kerala does not support siddha system to grow.