Facts you must know before seeking admission to Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani Medical colleges- Prof Dr Shriram Savrikar

 Facts you must know before seeking admission to Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani Medical colleges

  

The results of NEET are out and students are dreaming of their future in medical profession. The students usually choose admissions to Medical, Dental, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani faculties in that sequence. Parents have an internal intense urge to see their wards becoming a medical doctor. One can understand the age related psychology of the students. But the urge of some parents is so intense that they are ready to go to any extent to push their sons and daughters in medical profession. They think that the world is going to end for them and their children if they fail to get admission in medical college. However, they don’t understand that gone are the days when the prefix ‘Dr’ with any medical degree or diploma or certificate in hand, ensured safe and lucrative life ahead, due to guaranteed employment or guaranteed money minting in private practice. Earning bread and butter has become as difficult for majority of medical doctors as it is difficult in any other profession. Very few overcome this situation but such is the case in any other profession.

Just have a look at the information given below before taking a decision to put your step in the doors of any medical, particularly Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Unani college.

Status of Ayurveda doctors in India as reported in March 2020

India will exceed WHO recommended Doctor: Population ratio of 1:1000 in 2024 with only MBBS doctors. Thereafter 8 lakh Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy and Unani doctors will become surplus. They will not be required in public health care services even for showing numbers Current Doctor: Population ratio is 0.77 per 1000 population with only MBBS doctor. (Current population estimate 133 crores), which will become 1.03 doctors per 1000 population in 2024.

 

 

As on 31^st March 2020

Number of Registered AYUSH Doctors – 7, 99,879

Number of Registered Ayurveda Doctors - 4,43,704

Number of AYUSH Colleges                           - 914

Number of Ayurveda Colleges                        - 393

Students admitted in AYUSH colleges every year        - 52000

Students admitted in Ayurveda colleges every year       - 25,407

Status of MBBS doctors:

As on 31^st March 2017 number of MBBS Doctors - 10,22,849

                                 Annual admissions for MBBS 67,219

                                 Annual admission for AYUSH -52,000

                                 Annual admission for Ayurveda – 25000

(Figures are taken from Ministry of AYUSH web site).

In 2024-  4,70,526 MBBS doctors will be added (without considering opening of any new MBBS medical college, which is unlikely. The Govt is planning to open one medical college in every district in the country).

In 2024 considering the current growth rate population estimate will be 14,47, 560, 463 (144.75 Crores). Thus the doctor: population ratio with only MBBS doctors will be 1.03 doctors per 1000 population.

Thus no AYUSH doctor will be required to fulfil WHO recommended doctor: population ratio.

Some bare facts about prospects of AYUSH doctors:

Employment opportunities for AYUSH doctors in State Public Health services are almost negligible.

Once in a blue moon if they get any employment their salaries are less than half of any MBBS doctor.

In AYUSHMAN Bharat scheme status of AYUSH doctors is considered lower than any Nursing personnel.

There is no clarity about permission to practice modern medicine by AYUSH doctors. Few states permit, whereas majority of the states do not permit such practice.

Same thing is true about physical fitness certificates and other medical certificates issued by AYUSH doctors. Quite a number of organizations including RTO in Maharashtra do not accept medical certificates issued by AYUSH doctors.

Current trends for seeking health care:

The trends of seeking health care have changed drastically in recent years. Most of the population is getting covered under different health care insurance schemes. In coming few years all Indian population will be covered under health insurance either under Govt scheme or under self-purchased health insurance plans. Lower Income group has already been taken care of under the umbrella of AYUSHMAN Bharat and similar sector specific Govt. health care insurance schemes. AYUSH doctors are not qualified to get empanelled in any of these schemes as the basic qualification required for such empanelment is MBBS. Therefore, AYUSH doctors will not see any patient from this class coming to take treatment in their clinic.

The Middle and Higher Socio-Economical class usually purchases its own health insurance cover. Although these insurance plans cover only Hospital admissions and treatments procured in outpatient facilities are not covered in any plans. This class of people rarely visit general practitioners and prefers to visit specialist doctors or multi-speciality clinics for routine medical needs. Thus this class is also slipping away from the general medical practitioner.

These are the days of corporate medical care. Where only specialist doctors have a place. The species of general medical practitioner is losing its relevance in the society. In this scenario even a plain MBBS doctor is also losing his place as a general practitioner. In such a situation Ayurveda, Homeopathy or Unani doctors practicing allopathy medicine has become most irrelevant.

Status of BAMS, BHMS like doctors in private Hospitals

Till now it is a common occurrence to see a BAMS or BHMS doctor giving service as a RMO in private hospitals even in ICUs. This is seen because services of these doctors are comparatively much cheaper as compared to services of any MBBS doctor. Many BAMS and BHMS doctors ae observed working as RMO in the night and conducting their general practice in the day. But this picture will be fading away soon. These doctors will soon be replaced by MBBS doctors as their services will also become available at much cheaper rates like that of BAMS or BHMS doctor. All this is a game of numbers. The number of MBBS doctors is rising very fast. As a result, very soon MBBS doctors failing to get admission to post graduate courses will have to either move in rural area to practice general medicine or they have to work as RMOs in private/ corporate hospitals replacing currently serving BAMS/ BHMS doctors.

A look back in the past will prove my point. Few years ago MD or MS specialists were rarely seen serving even at district places. Today they are a common sight even at Taluka places. Thus if an MD / MS is moving to taluka, MBBS will have to move to a village. In such a situation where is the place to move for a BAMS and BHMS doctor?

Scope for Ayurveda doctors

The above picture very clearly shows that any non-MBBS doctor will not have any place in the society in coming days if he plans to practice allopathy. As explained in above paragraph that gone are the days of general practitioner. These are the days of speciality and super-specialities. In this regard there is a silver lining to Ayurveda, which overtakes Allopathy. In Allopathy, to practice as a consultant specialist, every MBBS doctor has to acquire a post graduate qualification. In Ayurveda, such post graduate qualifications although necessary, have yet to gain much relevance in professional practice. Even a plain BAMS graduate holds the capacity to practice as a consultant Ayurveda specialist. There are numerous examples where such plain BAMS doctors are practicing as most successful Ayurveda consultant. But to acquire such expertise and ability one has to toil hard. The student has to learn true Ayurveda as an independent system. He should not take admission to Ayurveda College only to get a degree and then plan to practice Allopathy.  There is no future for such practices. Don’t get carried away by such examples. This has become a past. If you want to make your career in medicine by getting an Ayurveda degree. You can do it by practicing Ayurveda as a system and not by practicing Allopathy under the disguise of Ayurveda degree.  The first step towards this goal is to select appropriate Ayurveda college, where such training of practicing Ayurveda as a system, is given.

What to do before taking admission in any Ayurveda College?

Before selecting any college for taking admission, it is better to visit the hospital of that Ayurveda college. Visit the hospital, see if any patients are admitted in that hospital and have a look on case papers to see what treatment they are receiving. You can have a talk with admitted patients. A visit to hospital dispensary will also show you the true picture. You should also inquire about the physical availability of teaching staff. An informal talk with local college students will give you a true picture. Be careful, you are going to spend 5.5 precious years of your life in this premises. These years will be decisive in determining your future life. So don’t hesitate in asking questions. It is your right. Nobody can deny you this access. Don’t feel that somebody is doing you a favour by giving admission even after paying a lofty fee. If you are paying hefty fee even otherwise also, it is more relevant to be extra curious.

These are the few things which I can share. Friends I am worried for our young generation having dreams of future in their eyes. Don’t let anybody spoil that dream. I know the path ahead is very hard. But remember, medicine is not the only field., You can make future anywhere. The only thing matters is your determination to do so. Every profession is a Nobel profession. Medicine has not remained as Nobel as it was in the past.

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