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India: Health experts urge finance minister to make special allocations for women's health in budget

Maharishi Ayurveda India - News Translate This Article
18 March 2012

New Delhi: The prominent role that women are playing in the country's economy could be gauged from the fact that 11 per cent of women in India are heading corporate houses, compared to three per cent in the US. Keeping this in view the government should lay ample focus on the health policies for women in the Union Budget 2012-13 with special allocations for Ayurveda, according to several health experts including world-renowned Ayurveda exponents.

They made this fervent appeal to the government against the backdrop of the recent International Women's Day from Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital, New Delhi—concerns equally relevant in light of current observance of World Health Day.

Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital is the only NABH-accredited Ayurveda hospital in North India. (NABH is the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers.) The occasion was a seminar, ''Ayurvedic Solutions to Women's Health'', organized by Maharishi Ayurveda on 16 March.

Speaking on the occasion, Shrimati Pragya Sharma, Director of Maharishi Ayurveda, said that the government needs to understand issues related to women's health in the light of their increasing role in the country's economy and how best their health interests could be protected. She said that instead of running the risk of the side effects of modern medicines, Ayurveda is able to provide effective care for diseases like breast cancer at lower cost.

The government's programmes for mother and child have grossly ignored post-natal care which is needed in cities and towns, she said, adding that this year's economic survey has only given a passing reference to Ayurveda. There are two lakhs (200,000) primary health care centres (PHCs) and hospitals in the country providing treatment through modern medicines, as compared to 25,000 hospitals of AYUSH.* She sought the cooperation of the private sector if the government lacks resources.

Addressing the gathering, Panchkarma expert Dr. Anupama Patra said that a large number of mothers are succumbing to diseases due to absence of proper post-natal care, because of inadequate attention in this area by the government. She said that Ayurveda and Panchakarma provide proper post-natal care in terms of nutrition and treatment of many disorders.

The former medical superintendent of MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), Dr. Anand Kumari, said that today's lifestyle calls for proper care for the body, including the need for proper diet and exercise, which Ayurvedic rasayanas and yoga asanas can provide.

Addressing the seminar, Dr. Bhanu Sharma elaborated on disorders related to women's hormones and age such as menopause, puberty, and ovarian and breast cancer. She said Ayurveda can offer proper treatment and diet for these disorders.

Dr. Raju said that Ayurveda can be an effective cure for infertility. He said that this has been scientifically proved.

The seminar was preceded by a week-long free health check-up camp for women in Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital. The BPL (insurance) card holder women were also given free medicines.

Source: A.E.N.

* AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy—a large area of knowledge encompassing many aspects of traditional health care, recognized by the government of India.

© Copyright 2012 A.E.N.

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