Scientists, Ayush Practitioners appeal to Prime Minister for Full and Effective Use of Indian Systems of Medicine for Covid-19 treatment

The signatories list several highly successful and large-scale initiatives undertaken by Government institutions and individual practitioners where Indian systems of medicine have been used effectively both for the prevention and cure of the COVID-19 disease.

PPST (Patriotic and People-oriented Science and Technology), a group of mainly scientists and technologists who came together in the early eighties to work towards making S&T in India more functional and connected with the Indian needs and requirements, appealed to Prime Minister requesting full and effective use of Indian Medical Systems for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

The signatories list several highly successful and large-scale initiatives undertaken by Government institutions and individual practitioners where Indian systems of medicine have been used effectively both for the prevention and cure of the COVID-19 disease. They suggest to include these systems in the regular healthcare practice of India for providing therapies to patients and improving public health care facilities because of their success. The large-scale use of indigenous systems shall lead to the generation of enormous data to scientifically establish the safety and efficacy of these systems.

Nearly 700 scientists, technologists and practitioners of Indian systems of medicine have sent an appeal. Of the 700 signatories, there are 11 Padma Shree and 3 Padma Bhushan awardees. There are 210 PhD signatories, 300 practitioners of the Indian systems of medicine, of which 46 are from the Siddha stream of Tamil Nadu. Several of the signatories are leaders within their respective fields of endeavour, including retired and serving directors of major institutions, distinguished professors and several retired Secretaries and Chief Secretaries to the Government of India and the State Governments.

The response the Appeal has received from different sections of high professionals shows there is a feeling in favour of urgently introducing Indian systems of medicine as a part of an integrated health care system, as these difficult times of a great calamity are also periods of great national opportunity. The signatories also said the country has a rare opportunity to integrate healthcare's indigenous knowledge and heritage into India's formal healthcare systems, and the nation should gratefully accept this opportunity and utilise it to the fullest extent.