Considering the recent advances in medical field, we are facing a great need of upgradation in Ayurveda education.

We have come to know that CCIM is preparing new MSE regarding Ayurved education. If such genuine suggestions are required for the benefit of the department then the important needs should be discussed. Even if suggestions are not officially demanded from the authorities, this is a small attempt to provide suggestions at our level. From this point of view, all suggestions and objections intentional towards the progress of the Kayachikitsa department are welcomed. We will try to put forth them collectively.

Any suggestions other than these are also requested. All these suggestions will be sent to Ministry of AYUSH/ CCIM/ Governing body to be discussed. If such suggestions are taken under consideration and appropriate actions will be taken then it would be productive towards the quality education of Ayurved .

 In case of Kayachikitsa subject which has top priority in Ashtang Ayurveda & of great importance in ayurved practice, changes in this subject affect the quality of Ayurved education directly.  Following factors should be considered an important issue and changes are expected to be made correspondingly –

I] Regarding BAMS syllabus and student training -

              1)  Initially Kayachikitsa subject was divided into 4 papers for the purpose of study as well as examinations; Panchkarma was only part of Kayachikitsa paper 4 section A and designated only 50 marks for Panchkarma. Later on it was given the importance of separate paper which was not necessary. Kayachikitsa Examination was based on evaluation of 400 marks for theory and 200 marks for practicals. Later only 3 papers were designated to Kayachikitsa syllabus. That included 300 marks for theory and 150 marks for practicals. Further the syllabus was confined to only 2 papers with examination of 200 marks theory and 100 marks practical. By doing so the largest and most crucial subject of Kayachikitsa was evaluated for 300 marks only instead of the original 600 marks in total.

              2) Final year BAMS student clinical training should be for Kayachikitsa (6 months), Manasrog (3 months), Rasayana & Vajikaran (3 months), Panchkarma (3months) and Atyayik (3 months) necessarily.             

             3) In reality Panchkarma is a part of Kayachikitsa and has the role of practical approach. Initially it was confined to Kayachikitsa and was only considered separately for the PG section. Its consideration as separate subject was not needed since then only.

            4)  Kayachikitsa is responsible for 50% bed occupancy in Ayurved Hospital IPD in which Panchkarma, Swasthvrutta, Manasrog, Rasayan, Agadtantra and Atyayik chikitsa are included in Kayachikitsa only.

 As our aim is to provide efficient physicians & surgeons to benefit the society for the effective holistic management  with contemporary advances of various Non-communicable diseases (NCD),  Chronic degenerative disorders, Metabolic disorders, Life style disorders,  Infectious diseases, Autoimmune diseases, Geriatric disorders and so on , it is very essential to spend more time in Department of Kayachikitsa during Internship.

                 The duration of Kayachikitsa internship should not be reduced to 1 and ½ month and 3 months of 6 months and 12 months distribution of clinical training of Internship respectively. It should be kept as per previous internship schedule of 2 months and 4 months respectively for 6 months and 12 months distribution of clinical training of Internship.

            II] Regarding patient services -

             5) Another important issue is about patient initial assessment. The services provided to patients should be accurate and unambiguous. This in reality is following drastically inaccurate protocol. Patients are sent directly without initial screening. Such referral to Panchakarma and Swasthvrutta OPD is done by a non medical professional appointed at the registration counter.

Kayachikitsa involves the study of the entire strotas system, their examinations, thorough physical examination of patients, correlations with the complaints, detailed study of causative factors and then reaching an appropriate and scientific approach of diagnosing the patient. Thus every new patient should be examined by Kayachikitsa OPD first and then referred to Panchkarma and Swasthvrutta OPD if needed. Follow up patients can be sent directly to concerned OPD, however, the new fresh patient deserves a right for scientific screening by medical professionals at Kayachikitsa dept.

                   Sending patients without medical screening to other OPD is not only injustice to them but also a major cause of degradation of ayurved practice. 

                  6) Panchkarma is a procedure based approach of ayurved treatment but that does not justify its separation from Kayachikitsa. Keeping it separate in terms of education and practice is not useful to advancement in ayurved field in any sense. 

                Department of Panchkarma provides training only regarding main five karma and no specialized knowledge of disease, pathophysiology or any diagnostic tools. Panchakarma syllabus does not cover abhyantar chikitsa and detailed study of various kalpas.

Thus new patient cannot be diagnosed or given any non-procedural chikitsa by the Panchkarma department. Various other OPDs like Baalrog, Prasutitantra, Shalya or Shalakyatantra may diagnose patients concerned to them and then if needed patients can be sent to special procedural treatment by Panchkarma.

                  The Strotas examination, diagnosis and chikitsa are under authority of Kayachikitsa only. When Panchkarma was unnecessarily separated from Kayachikitsa Department, the separation might have the purpose of advancement in Panchkarma procedures and techniques.

All other OPDs like Baalrog, Prasutitantra etc may diagnose and advice patient procedural treatment, after that Panchkarma should focus on detailed study of procedures of karmas only. The specific study of procedures, choice of drugs for procedures, organization and execution of crucial karmas like vaman, virechan, etc should be done in depth for the advancement field of Ayurved. This is essential for the student education as well as progress of Ayurved.

                  This explains that each and every new patient needs to be diagnosed from Kayachikitsa Department only and after that sent to Panchakarma department only for specific procedures.  At the time of inspection, the OPD of Panchkarma should be inspected for procedures/ Karmas records only not OPD records.              

III) Regarding AYUSH national teachers eligibility test-

According to new viral draft of MSE, The existing teachers appointed before the notification of this regulation are required to pass this test for promotion. But this test should be mandatory only for newly appointed teachers in AYUSH, not for promotion of already experienced teachers in the same colleges.