Memorandum submitted by Dr Vijay Vaishnav
(HO 56)
We write this as academicians and homoeopathic
practitioners. We have been in the field of homoeopathic education
and practice for 25 years in Mumbai (Bombay), India.
It is disheartening to learn about the chaos and
furore over homoeopathy in the UK. Questions have been raised
in the British Parliament whether homoeopathy is scientific and
whether it should be supported and funded by the government.
GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE
In India, homoeopathy has progressed considerably
because of the patronage received by it from the Indian government.
It was recognized as a system of medicine by an Act of Parliament,
and with the formation of the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH),
homoeopathic education and practice was regulated.
REGULATIONS
The CCH has regulations in place that prescribe
the minimum standards of education and training in homoeopathic
colleges in India. No person is allowed to practice homoeopathy
unless he/she has graduated from a homoeopathic college that is
recognized by the CCH. Correspondence courses are not recognized.
TRAINING OF
HOMOEOPATHS
The training of a homoeopathic student in India
is similar to that of a student being trained in conventional
(allopathic) medicine. This means that a student has to enroll
in a college for a full-time course of 4½ years (plus a one
year compulsory internship) in homeopathy. He is taught the same
subjects as his contemporary in the allopathic course—anatomy,
physiology, pathology, medicine, surgery, OB-GYN and community
medicine. He also has to attend practicals (eg dissections in
anatomy, biochemistry in physiology, etc.) as well as clinics
in clinical subjects with demonstrations on real patients, and
observing as well as assisting in surgeries as well as deliveries
in the operation rooms.
USE THE
INDIAN MODEL
This is lacking in most of the countries in
the world where homoeopathy is being practiced. The onus is on
the British government to regulate the training and practice of
homoeopathy in UK. The MPs should study the rules and regulations
of the CCH, India, and make use of the experience of this organization
to help streamline the practice of homoeopathy in UK and also
prove to the world (and themselves!) that it has a scientific
basis.
RESEARCH IN
HOMOEOPATHY
The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy
(CCRH), India encourages research and development of homoeopathy
in India. It has piloted many research projects to prove the efficacy
of homoeopathy. Many new drugs have been proved by the CCRH and
lots of scientific papers have been published by it including
clinical research done on HIV/AIDS, Bronchial Asthma, Cancers,
etc.
The CCH and the CCRH are under the Department of
AYUSH (Ayurved, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) of the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Department
of AYUSH encourages the Central Councils of the various alternative
systems of medicines to organize CMEs for practitioners and ROTPs
(Re-Orientation Training Programmes) for teachers. It also sanctions
funds for research at recognised institutions.
EVIDENCE BASED
HOMOEOPATHY
We have had success in treating cases with organic
lesions and we have published them in various homoeopathic journals.
We have also published many of these cases on our web site www.drvaishnav.com.
Theses cases with documented evidence in the form of X rays, Ultrasounds,
Colour Doppler studies, etc, both before and after treatment,
prove that homoeopathy really works. We have published an article
in a journal for allopathic doctors on the role of ultrsounds
in homoeopathic practice. The article underscores the awareness
of a modern homoeopath and the scientific approach to the treatment
of his patients.
Dr Vijay Vaishnav MD (Hom)
Professor and ex-Head, Dept of Materia Medica, CMP
Homoeopathic Medical College, India
Dr Daxa Vaishnav MD (Hom)
Professor Head, Dept. of OB-GYN, CMP Homoeopathic
Medical College, India
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