AMMAOI Demands Insurance Cover for Ayurveda Care

The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association of India (AMMAOI) has demanded that the Ayush department initiate necessary procedures to provide health insurance policy holders access to ayurveda care.

The AMMAOI delegation, which met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sought the Centre's help in addressing issues faced by the Ayurvedic sector in the country.

"The Ayush department had initiated talks with almost 11 national insurance companies in the country to include Ayurveda under their insurance cover," AMMAOI patron Padmashree P R Krishna Kumar told reporters here.
The delegation led by Krishna Kumar, AMMOI General Secretary D Ramanathan, and President S G Ramesh Warrier had apprised Modi and of the challenges in the Ayurvedic sector including the lack of industrial subsidy, issues pertaining to sale licence, export and others.

"Prime Minister Modi assured all help in improving the Ayurvedic sector including in the manufacture of drugs and its export," Kumar said, adding that Modi was very encouraging and enthusiastic in promoting Ayurveda to the world.
The delegation also discussed the need to revamp Ayurvedic education and syllabus in the country.

"In the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) course, Ayurveda is only 35 per cent of the syllabus. 65 per cent of the syllabus of BAMS comprises chapters of modern system of medicine (allopathy)," Kumar said.
"Western nations are looking towards India and Kerala to understand the various aspects of Ayurveda, especially for the 'management' of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc," said Dr S G Ramesh Warrier adding that they even have started research in combining modern medicine with Ayurveda for various treatments.

"Judicious combination of different systems of medicine is absolutely necessary in the modern era to address the chronic non-communicable lifestyle disorders of the world," said Warrier. The ayurveda industry in Kerala is facing a major challenge as the tonics (arishtam) which we make are considered as beverage by the government, Ramanathan said. "The Ayurvedic tonics are made normally under the Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act (MNTP) but in Kerala it has been brought under Abkari Rules, and we have expressed our reservation over this practise," Ramanathan added.

"We had earlier requested the Prime Minister to promote Ayurveda on the lines of Yoga. But now the problem with us is that if a demand arises, we may not be able to meet the same as the infrastructure, quality practioners etc are not up to the mark," Krishna Kumar said.

All these matters are being considered by the Prime Minister and he has assured action being implemented, said the AMMOI office bearers. The press meet which was held at Kerala House here was attended by Ashta Vaidyan Dr E T Neelakandan Mooss, A V Anoop from Cholayil healthcare and others.