Management of Health Care Services

Ayurveda comprises more than mere administration of medicine. Yoga,

pranayama and dhyana are prominently associated with Ayurveda and have received

scientific acceptance. They have become almost a rage among the Westerners.Unani

is another system of medicine which was introduced into India by the Arab invaders.

Probably the Arabs received this knowledge from the Greeks. Mogul history is

replete with the contributions made by the Unani medical practitioners. A close

examination of past Indian history will show that unani thrives as an alternative

system of medicine in India even today.

If we look into the ancient Indian history it will reveal the fact that people

looked for health care only in the alternative system of medicine, Ayurveda. This was

but natural because they were not exposed to the allopathic medicine till the British

started importing medicines and health care management services from the West.

Perhaps the big invasion of Western medicine into India came with the discovery of

Penicillin, an antibiotic to fight infectious diseases.

In the post independent period, commencing with the first five-year plan the

government has laid emphasis on the development of the ancient systems of

alternative medicine with required budgetary allocations. This, not only envisaged

keeping ancient practice of Ayurveda alive but also to make it "affordable to the

masses". Reviewing the practice and popularity of alternative system of medicine in

India, we can state that this system, even today, is cost effective and employment

oriented, giving relief to a lot of people directly and indirectly sustaining their

livelihood.