Niti Aayog wants axe on homoeopathy, ayurveda bodies

Niti Aayog wants axe on homoeopathy, ayurveda bodies

NEW DELHI: Continuing with its drive to streamline the country’s medical system, the Niti Aayog is expected to recommend scrapping of two more institutions — the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) and the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). A senior government official told ET that the Aayog is working on two new bills suggesting ways to replace the two statutory bodies under the health ministry, which govern higher education in homoeopathy and Indian systems of medicine including ayurveda. A draft bill suggesting creation of an all­new body to replace the decades old statutory bodies is ready, but a final decision will be taken up by a Niti Aayog vice­chairman Arvind Panagariya­led panel set up to suggest sweeping reforms in the department of Ayush under the health ministry.

Last year, the panel looked into the issue of poor regulation of education by Medical Council of India and proposed replacing it with National Medical Commission. The proposal awaits the Cabinet approval, following which it will be tabled in Parliament. “Like the Medical Council of India, even these two statutory bodies have outlived their utility. Besides, they continue to unnecessarily complicate things because of stringent regulations, which makes it difficult to impart quality education in homoeopathy and ayurveda,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. According to the official, the Niti Aayog has completed stakeholder consultation on the two new bills and these would be soon put up for public opinion before they are finalised for the Cabinet approval. CCH, a statutory apex body under the health ministry, was set up by the government in 1973 to monitor homeopathy education in India. This means any institution desiring to grant a qualification in homeopathy is required to apply to CCH, which prescribes course curriculum and maintains central registers of homoeopaths. Similarly, CCIM, a statutory body under department of Ayush in the health ministry, was set up in 1971 under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act to monitor higher education in Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurvedua, Siddha and Unani.

source: 20 feb 2017 

link: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/niti-aayog-wants-axe-on-homoeopathy-ayurveda-bodies/articleshow/57240971.cms

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