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26 March, 2019

Indian Government invites NHMRC to open dialogue on traditional medicine


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On 9 November 2018, the Director General of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an apex research organisation under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, wrote directly to Professor Anne Kelso, CEO of the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) inviting the NHMRC ‘to open a dialogue for exchange of knowledge and experiences regarding the health and economic benefits of the integration of traditional medical systems into mainstream healthcare.’

He also noted deep concern over the NHMRC’s use of arbitrary and scientifically unjustifiable criteria in its review of homeopathy released in 2015, stating that India would have gladly shared their wealth of experience and knowledge in this area – if only it was asked. In India over 150 million people use homeopathy in daily healthcare, delivered by around 300,000 medical practitioners in primary healthcare settings, including hospitals.

Similar reviews of other natural therapies conducted by the NHMRC have been used as justification by the Australian Government to remove Private Health Insurance rebates for 16 natural therapies – despite growing and more up-to-date evidence showing their effectiveness (for example Tai Chi and Naturopathy), as well as other countries incorporating them into healthcare and medical bodies developing clinical practice guidelines recommending their use in common ailments. Released in 2015, the Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance for Natural Therapies (conducted by the NHMRC) did not include any studies published post 2013 and did not assess any original papers.

Traditional medicine backed by Government of India

In India, traditional medicine is used by hundreds of millions of patients in primary healthcare settings and is fully supported by the Government. The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is responsible for ensuring the optimal development and dissemination of AYUSH systems of health care, including education and the establishment of research centres featuring a growing number of international partnerships. This integration of traditional and conventional healthcare gives Indian citizens access to a ‘cafeteria-style’ approach to healthcare.

The CCRH Director General, Dr Raj Manchanda, states in his letter to Prof Kelso (also copied to the Department of Health):

“The public’s desire to access these systems is growing year on year… Indian society reaps multiple benefits from this integrated ‘cafeteria-style’ approach to healthcare; the provision of genuine patient choice, positive clinical outcomes for India’s large population and also substantial cost efficiencies to the Government. The promotion of these systems is consistent with India’s obligations under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Traditional Medicines Strategy 2014-2023, which requires member states to develop proactive policies to strengthen the role of traditional medicine in contributing to community health.”

Dr Raj Machanda expressed concern,

“that Australia’s current approach to reforms on homoeopathy appears to be contrary to the WHO Traditional Medicines Strategy 2014-2023, leading towards reduced patient access, rather than promoting its use. … India has a vast wealth of scientific knowledge and direct experience in this field and would have gladly shared this knowledge upon request.”

India is the world’s second most populous country (1.36 billion), second only to China (1.39 billion). Together, India and China account for around 40% of the world’s population and both countries have invested in forward-looking programs to integrate their rich traditional medicine systems in healthcare, alongside conventional medicine.

Accordingly, the CCRH has recently signed a number of international Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) to foster fundamental, basic and clinical research in the field and seeks to expand such initiatives further.

Dr Manchanda’s (CCRH) full letter to the NHMRC CEO can be read here.

 


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