MBBS Curriculum may undergo change, to include AYUSH elements

New Delhi: Promoting the integration of modern as well as Indian Systems of Medicine, the central government is reported to be pondering over the idea of bringing changes to the Undergraduate medical curriculum, so as to incorporate teachings of the latter.

Medical curricula will take new shape once government's considered plan to incorporate modern medicine with traditional medicine to promote integrative medicine and research comes into play.

Various departments under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are pondering over the plan, including the Apex Education Regulator, the MCI, reports Hindustan Times. The above idea was a thought mooted by a group of secretaries in the ministry, to Prime Minister Modi, at a recently held ministry meeting. However, it is also reported that the thought is currently at the ideation stage and yet to take concrete shape.

"Change of syllabus is a long-drawn process. There is a thought at the moment," said a senior health ministry official, preferring an anonymous status.

Elaborating on the said plan, Health Minister,JP Nadda said, "We are in talks with the MCI to see how medical curricula will be cross-cutting, with certain elements of allopathy flown in to Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) courses and of certain AYUSH elements into allopathy courses."

Similar integration has been taken up by the government in its recent efforts to convert primary health centres into Model PHCs. Calling it part of a larger attempt to promote holistic wellbeing and make experts from, both the systems of medicine, open to the idea of working in tandem, Mr. Nadda had recently stated, "Around one lakh sub centres in the country will be transformed into wellness centers, and 2500 have already been selected for a pilot."

Another example of integration is the centre at AIIMS. Speaking about the same, AYUSH Minister stated, 'The Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research' a state-of-the-art research centre, initiated by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, last year , will have experts from various disciplines of contemporary medicine collaborate with Yoga and Ayurveda specialists, both for disease treatment, and for preventive healthcare."

"Both the systems can supplement each other well. It is not only about curing a problem but also help deal with the symptoms," added AYUSH Minister, Shripad Yesso Naik to the HT.