The Ayurveda Education in India: How Well Are the Graduates Exposed to Basic Clinical Skills?

Abstract

“Ayurveda” is an ancient system of healthcare that is native to India. At present, in India, there are more than 240 colleges that offer a graduate-level degree (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery—BAMS) in Ayurveda. Even though the Central Council of Indian Medicine, the governing body that monitors the matters related to Ayurveda education, has imposed various educational norms and regulations, the standard of education has been a cause of concern in recent years. The mushrooming of substandard Ayurvedic colleges is the most important factor that is being held responsible for this kind of erosion in the standards. The present study is a mailed survey, which was carried out to evaluate the “Extent of exposure to basic clinical skills during BAMS course” as perceived by the sample groups of students and teachers drawn from 32 Ayurvedic educational institutions spread all over India. A methodically validated questionnaire was used as the tool in the study, to which 1022 participants responded. The study indicates that there are some serious flaws in the existing system of the graduate-level Ayurveda education. Since the Ayurvedic graduates play an important role in the primary healthcare delivery system of the country, governing bodies are required to take necessary steps to ensure the adequate exposure of the students to basic clinical skills. Along with the strict implementation of all the regulatory norms during the process of recognition of the colleges, introducing some changes in the policy model may also be required to tackle the situation.

The Basic Cardiovascular Responses to Postural Changes, Exercise, and Cold Pressor Test: Do They Vary in Accordance with the Dual Constitutional Types of Ayurveda?

“…This questionnaire is designed on the basis of the explanation found in Charaka Samhita , one of the most authentic textbooks on Ayurveda, authored around 1000 years BC [20]. This explanation is, in turn, based on the specific attribute (Guna) of a particular Dosha [5] .…”

How practical are the "teaching reforms" without "curricular reforms"?

“…[5] In addition, our study also showed that graduates are not trained sufficiently in handling clinical emergencies at primary healthcare level through Ayurveda. In general, we concluded that the exposure to basic clinical skills is insufficient during graduate programs.…”

Status of Regulation on Traditional Medicine Formulations and Natural Products:whither is India?

“…However, there needs to be integration at some level between BM and TM curricula to enable integrated therapy for patient-oriented treatment. This model is followed in countries like China and Vietnam, where both streams of medical education are integrated at all levels 6 . At present nothing about TM is included in BM curriculum due to its non-acceptance by the Indian Medical Council, the statutory body for BM education.…”