Dr. MC Gupta provides his point of view on whether AYUSH products pose a danger to public health and points out the various shortcomings and lack of a vision in the system that produces sub-par products, not backed by sound scientific research.

Q-- Do AYUSH products pose a threat to public health?

Dr. MC Gupta answers--

There is nothing ambiguous. Facts are clear as follows:

1--Ayurvedic drugs are a great potential health resource.

2--These have not been scientifically researched and assessed by modern scientists. [This is to a great extent, due to a deprecatory attitude on the part of practitioners of modern medicine.]

3--Those qualified in Ayurveda are not fully knowledgeable or trained in modern scientific research methods. For this reason, papers published by them in Ayurvedic journals etc. are below par and lack credibility.

4--Faculty of modern medicine institutes/medical colleges have no incentives/funding for research in Ayurveda.

5--The lack of any co-operation between Ayurveda and modern medicine is glaring in view of the fact that AYUSH is a separate ministry now, different from the MOHFW.

SUMMARY--Ayurveda has many gems remaining to be explored through modern scientific means but the vision is lacking on the part of the government, the modern medical profession and the Ayurveda practitioners themselves (whose only aim in life is to practice modern medicine without being qualified in it, courtesy various government notifications permitting the same.

Disclaimer- The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of M3 India.

Content from the writer has been directly replicated on the website. No edits have been made.

The writer, Dr. MC Gupta is a practising lawyer specialising in medical negligence cases. He also has an MD Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi where he also worked as a faculty member for 18 years, later working another 10 years as a Professor and Dean at National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, before pursuing law.