Indigenous Medicine Institute to be on par with foreign universities

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Steps have been taken to improve the standards of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM), University of Colombo to the level of an International University and the employability of graduates, Acting Director, IIM, Dr. M.W.S.J Kumari said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

The need to protect and develop the indigenous medical system has become vital. The IIM has taken many steps to achieve this goal.

Dr. Kumari said that IIM hopes to increase opportunities and access to higher education in the indigenous medical sector while satisfying the stakeholders and improving the global compatibility and global links.

"Eventhough, indigenous medical practitioners undergo immense difficulties in using modern medical components due to the restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council, non co-operation of Western qualified medical practitioners and institutes and increasing of number of students who seek higher education abroad.

She said that IIM has drafted a strategic plan which will be implemented from 2014 to 2018. It will help the institute to overcome various issues in developing the IIM", Dr. Kumari said.

She said that IIM repeatedly called upon the authorities to include the indigenous medical system in the National Health Policy. This is the main problem the Institute is currently undergoing. Creating a better environment in the academic field with more recognition in line with the global demand.

"A draft legislation will be prepared during this period consulting with experts, stakeholders and organisations. It will be submitted to relevant authorities for approval. The IIM also will take steps to improve the quality and standard of the BAMS and BUMS courses by changing the medium of study and introducing optional subjects.

The IIM also plans to introduce Grade Point Average (GPA) System for examinations under the new syllabus and to make IT and English compulsory subjects to improve the quality of graduates", Dr. Kumari said.

The IIM has introduced MD program for post graduate students and a number of diploma courses, she said.

"IIM will make IT and English compulsory subjects to improve the quality of graduates and to provide more infrastructure facilities to accommodate more students. (Lecture halls, equipment, hostels, playgrounds and other extracurricular facilities)", Dr. Kumari said.

"The IIM also plans to set up an International Coordinating Centre at IIM. The Centre is expected to open new vistas for staff members to conduct postgraduate studies in foreign universities and to work with them. The new Centre would facilitate the IIM enter into MOUs with foreign universities and to send academic staff for research to foreign universities. It is also expected through the new Centre that to send MD students to foreign universities for clinical training.

It is expected to open access to foreign students to conduct undergraduate and postgraduate programs conducted by IIM and to establish the language laboratory to popularize the trilingual efficacy of staff and members", Dr. Kumari said.

Besides the IIM also plans to establish a Research club and that is expected to provide funds for research proposals and to hold discussions and exchange knowledge with foreign universities. IIM also hopes to establish more relationship with private sector entrepreneurs that will provide opportunities for signing MOUs with private sector entrepreneurs, she said.

Sri Lanka has its own indigenous or traditional medical system called Ayurveda. This system is being practised for many centuries.

The Ayurvedic system is a mixture of the Sinhala traditional medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha systems, was from India, Unani medicine found in Greece came to Sri Lanka through the Arabs, and most importantly, the Desheeya Chikitsa, which is the indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic medical system was formulated based on a series of prescriptions handed down from generation to generation over a period of 3,000 years.

The ancient kings, who were also prominent physicians, sustained the system. King Buddhadasa (398 AD), the most influential of these physicians, wrote the Sarartha Sangrahaya, a comprehensive manuscript which physicians of this country still use for reference, according to Dr. Kumari said.

Ancient inscriptions on rock surfaces reveal that organised medical services had existed in the country for centuries. Certainly, Sri Lanka can portray, it was the first country in the world to set up hospitals.

The ruins in certain places are believed to be hospitals. Old hospital sites are now attractive tourist sites. The Mihintale Rock still has the ruins and is believed as the first hospital in the world. Old hospital sites now attract tourists, who marvel at the beautiful ruins.

Siddha Medicine" is considered as the oldest medical system known to mankind. Contemporary Tamil literature states that the system of Siddha medicine originated in South India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, as part of the trio Indian medicines -Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. Siddha medical system is over 10,000 years old.

"Siddhargal" or Siddhars were the premier scientists of ancient days.

Siddhars, mainly from South India laid the foundation for this system of medication. Siddhars were spiritual adepts who possessed the ashta siddhis, or the eight supernatural powers.

Agathiyar is considered the guru of all Siddhars, and the Siddha system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Muruga, son of the Hindu God-Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. So, the Siddhars are followers of Lord Shiva. "Agathiyar" was the first Siddhar and his disciples and Siddhars from other schools produced thousands of texts on Siddha, including medicine, and form the propounder of the system to the world.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), established in 1978, by Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, coordinates and promotes research in the fields of Ayurveda and Siddhani system has a long and impressive record in Sri Lanka and as history reveals this was introduced during the 1st Century AD by the Arabians. The strong commercial link between the Arab world and Sri-Lanka resulted in bringing Unani into Sri-Lanka.

History reveals that some Arabian physicians came to Sri Lanka to treat the Sri Lankan Kings and Ministers. Due to the success of the Unani treatment these doctors, were gifted with lands and various properties and honours by the rulers of that time.

As a result Unani doctors settled in Sri Lanka and treated the locals, according to Dr. Kumari.

As time went on the Unani doctors combined Unani medicine with local medical system Ayurvedic and practised.

This made Unani more appropriate to the Sri Lankan community.

The Unani medicine which is being practised now in Sri Lanka is a combination of Arabian Unani and Sri Lankan Ayurveda, which we now refer to as "Sri Lankan Unani".

Currently these two medical systems such as Ayurveda and Sri Lankan Unani are considered as indigenous medicines.

Both these medicine systems are protected and preserved by the 1961 Act of Ayurveda. medicine. Also, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body set up in 1971 under AYUSH, monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine, including Siddha. To fight biopiracy and unethical patents, the Government of India, in 2001, set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library as a repository of 223,000 formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha.

The Unani system has a long and impressive record in Sri Lanka and as history reveals this was introduced during the 1st Century AD by the Arabians.