Modi 2.0 eyeing big push for allopathy, Ayush integration

New Delhi: After fulfilling the poll promise to provide affordable healthcare service to all by rolling out Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) popularly known as Ayushman Bharat scheme in its first term, Modi 2.0 is all set to strengthen the venture by integrating traditional medical therapy with allopathy at the primary health centres (PHCs) in a big way to arrest rising chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Soon after taking over the charge of AYUSH Ministry, Union Minister Shripad Naik had said, "All PHCs (now Wellness and Health Centres) in the country will now have AYUSH doctors besides practitioners of modern medicines. The people would be introduced to alternative medicine through such measures."

The need to appoint AYUSH doctors has been increasingly felt at the PHCs level, particularly following the success of a pilot project launched in 2016 in three districts - Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Surendranagar (Gujarat) and Gaya (Bihar) -- wherein the targeted beneficiaries are being given Ayurveda medicines, dietary regimen and yoga classes to treat non-communicable diseases. Commenting on the issue, a CSIR official said, "The CSIR developed anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR 34 has proved a milestone in curing diabetic disease. It's a scientifically developed drug that has been produced by completing various medical tests and is proving very beneficial in controlling diabetes."

The anti-diabetic herbal medicine BGR-34, which is used by patients of newly diagnosed diabetes only as a measure of management of the disease is jointly developed by the CSIR's two labs -- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI). The drug is being sold by the Delhi-based AIMIL Pharmaceuticals.

"The herbal drug is a natural DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) inhibitor with no side effects," said Sanchit Sharma from AIMIL.