Ujire: The National President of Indian Naturopathy & Yoga Graduate Medical Association [INYGMA] has urged the Government to include Yoga & Naturopathy into the NCISM.
Although the NITI Ayog proposed addition of Yoga & Naturopathy into the proposed NCISM and in 2014 & in 2016 CCIM has accepted to include Yoga & Naturopathy and regulate the education and clinical practice at par with other AYUSH system, the Ministry of AYUSH is refusing to regulate Yoga & Naturopathy by either of the above paths or through its’ own proposed separate bill called National Commission for Yoga & Naturopathy [NCYN]. Thus Dr Prashanth Shetty General Secretary of INYGMA has expressed grave concern over Yoga & Naturopathy System of Medicine is being left out of all forms of Regulation of professional medical education and clinical practice.
Dr Prashanth Shetty was addressing media in SDM College of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences, Ujire and urged the Prime Ministers Office [PMO] to immediately intervene to protect the interests of 42 Yoga & Naturopathic medical colleges; credibility of over 5000 Yoga & Naturopathy Physicians and the future of the Yoga & Naturopathy System of Medicine.
While this Government lead by Hon Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modiji has promoted Yoga & Naturopathy, it is unfortunate that this Government has failed to recognize and treat Yoga & Naturopathy system of medicine at par with other AYUSH systems of medicine including that of Unani Medicine and newly added SowRigpa Medicine.
Impact& Appeal:
Currently there are 42 Yoga & Naturopathic Medical Colleges across India. In the last 25 years over 5000 physicians have passed out of these colleges and are practicing in India and across the World and there are over 7000 students pursuing medical education of Yoga & Naturopathy. Not including Yoga & Naturopathy System of Medicine into the NCISM is therefore a regressive step which would destroy the future of all the 42 colleges; future of the physicians and students.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Health & Family Welfare constituted to review NCISM has unanimously recommended the inclusion of Yoga & Naturopathy. Hence there are no legal hurdles to include Yoga & Naturopathy into the proposed NCISM. Therefore, we strongly urge the PMO to instruct Ministry of AYUSH to accept the Standing Committees recommendation and include Yoga & Naturopathy into NCISM.
At a time where there is Worldwide acceptance to Yoga and through Yoga India is poised to lead the World, the professional medical education and practice of Yoga & Naturopathy as a composite system of medicine can enable India as the Global leader in Mind-Body Medicine / Lifestyle Medicine.
Background:
In the year 1989, Dr Veerendra Heggadeji started World’s first Medical course in Yoga & Naturopathy. In the year 1994, the first batch came out from Mangalore University was a historic milestone. Thereafter till date, 25 batches of Yoga & Naturopathy physicians are serving across the World making it a revolution in the offering Yoga & naturopathy based Lifestyle Medicine.
Before 1989, the courses on Yoga were non- medical and were limited to certificate courses offered by NGOs with NO University affiliation. From 1972 to 1989, Osmania University offered a 4-year degree program in Naturopathy called Doctor of Naturopathy [ND]. In the year 1989, ND was upgraded to BNYS by adding Yogic Sciences including therapy.
Since 1994 till date, 9 states across the country through their respective state registration boards, offered medical registration to the BNYS graduates as a licensed medical practitioner in the field of Yoga & Naturopathy. 5 out of 42 colleges are offering MD program in Clinical Yoga and Clinical Naturopathy, which is also being, recognized medical registration boards. Since 1998, BNYS being a professional medical degree iseligible for PhD program in RGUHS; AIIMS; NIMHANS and other Universities. There are over 100 BNYS graduates who have completed PhD in various fields and are enriching the research & development in the field of Yoga & Naturopathy.
Letter to Hon prime Minister:
Padamabhushan Dr Veerendra Heggadeji, Dharmadhakiri of Dharmasthala and Padmashri Dr HR Nagendraji of SVYASA Yoga University have already written to the Hon Prime Minister of India to address the concerns of Yoga & Naturopathy system of medicine and sought the intervention of PMO in the inclusion of Yoga & naturopathy into the proposed NCISM.
Feb 12, 2020- One day of Silent & Fasting Sathygraha:
On Feb 12, 2020 the students, staff of all 42 colleges across the country; parents of over 7000 students; the beneficiaries [patients & their families] and the well wishing organizations of Yoga & Naturopathy are participating in one day of Silent and Fasting seeking the immediate intervention of PMO n this matter to include Yoga & Naturopathy into the proposed NCISM.
Danger:
•If Yoga & Naturopathy system of medicine is NOT regulated through NCISM, it would be a regressive step undermining the development done in the last 30 years.
•Unregulated system of medicine cannot have a uniform standard professional education and accreditation process.
•BNYS graduates will NOT have national medical registration for legal clinical practice.
•Therefore Yoga & Naturopathy will NOT be at par with other Indian System viz., Ayurveda; Homoeopathy; Unani; Siddha and Sowrigpa.
•Thus India would loose a great opportunity to lead the World in the field of Yoga & Naturopathy which is endorsed by Mahathma Gandhiji as the best suited system for India and for the World.