Is health care becoming a commodity?

In our country, health was always a way of life that was inculcated in our culture. Whether we belong to north, east, west or south, we all have some common traditional threads. People were self-reliant. Staying healthy was in the basic essence of cooking, the way food was eaten, the recipes, food based on the seasons, practices like oiling the hair, a head massage, sleeping discipline, etc. these were all healthy habits. Now, for everything we want to consult a doctor. From headache, pimple, stomach upset, constipation, indigestion, for every little thing we depend on doctors. Often we want specialists only, not physician. Did we see this panic among our grandparents?

There was a way to live a healthy life. Every member in the family had some knowledge on the basics of our body-mind. This was keeping the primary healthcare needs within the house. This was a culture. If a youngster complained, the mother would give a quick remedy. If the mother had a concern, the elders would solace. There would be a remedy for every small problem within the house. This is not a very old practice that we have forgotten.

Now we have a western worldview. We think that health can be purchased. Longevity can be bought like a commodity. Medicines can protect longevity. Is this true? Does it provide an overall well-being? Are we happy?

Some of the traditional systems of medicines such as Ayurveda (Science of life), Naturopathy (nature cure), Mudras (pressure points), Chakra healing (energy medicine) gives suggestions on how to live healthy. Not only physical health, it talks about emotional health, it talks about the connection between the humans and the universe, our thought process and our body's reaction. Something that were being practiced for 5000 years needs a documentation to prove its standard, because that's what our Western education has taught us. Has the time come to commoditize our tradition and culture in the name of science? Today, have we started doing this for Yoga? 

An ideal situation could be Integrating both the practices. While considering modern system for diagnosis, emergency care and immediate relief of symptoms, compliment it with traditional science for inculcating changes in our lifestyle, and balancing the imbalances. Start becoming more aware of our inner-world, as much as we are aware of the outer-world. This is what China and Japan have been following. China has been building a strong integrative medicine model across the globe in the last many years. Isn't it time for India to start looking at allopath based integrative model? Should we not take leadership in solving health issues by taking advantage of 5000+ year old science, its values and secrets?

Uplifting the traditional practices of Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Energy medicine, to higher  standards of practice, in the name of protocols, processes and document - which means, changing the way these are presented, is the key! Create evidences based on the modern standard, in the name of science, which a common man or today's generation can understand. Establish the science with more publications in good international journals and large clinical trials. These practices just need a translation.

For creating an ideal integrative model, the change has to begin at all levels. Thanks to Pandemic...many are aware of the importance of balanced life. Healthy lifestyle. Strong immunity need. 

The change is needed right from influencing the education system,  teaching methods of traditional science like Ayurveda, Naturopathy, the deep values of which are lost. This, probably has led to the loss of pride among the Practioner. Simply copying the Western system of education without keeping the basic essence of the science is a catastrophe. While Ayurveda and Naturopathy or other doctors of AYUSH also study for 5 years with same internship as MBBS doctors, why don't doctors feel proud of themselves? Most of the students who aspired medical field have taken up this traditional science just because they did not get through for MBBS. How many colleges in India have made these students feel that they have made the best choice, and have created pride in them? How many teachers have interpreted the text and scripts holistically? Mostly the cause and effect of the problem is taught, but often not the mechanism of action. The How's are not well taught. May be there was no need of that in the past for ancient practice. But, today, it is important. There is a need to redefine the same, new dimension of teaching is required.

What has been the perspective of this science by today's practicing doctors? These doctors want to practice allopath except for few exceptions. These numbers have to increase. Uplifting is required right from the way these things are taught today. Has time come for unlearning and re thinking?

Integrative medicine as a concept, should be a movement, and it will. Already few institutes have made progress in this direction. More and more institutes and organizations should start working towards this direction. Collaborative programs, more and more research for integrating the better of two worlds (modern and traditional science) and creating more awareness on the benefits of this approach should spread in the society. After all, who wants to depend on taking medicines life-long, and just manage the problem or disorder?

With the alarming statistics of lifestyle disorders today, it's time for people to wake up to the real cause of this catastrophe. When people recognize the value for it, reforms would be made. Forces will come together. Investors will start seeing opportunities. Government will be forced to take actions. In fact Government has taken some good initiatives in this direction which is quite encouraging. Formation of National Policy for Integrative Medicine is underway. This is opening up a big market. Let's make our body a better place to live, and build a sustainable health!

- By Dr. B G Roopa Lakshmi (h.c), Founder & MD, WELLBEEING, Integrated Health Care, Bangalore.