??????????

India has a rich tradition of an indigenous, well-documented and scientific system of medicine. Tamil Nadu has an Indigenous System of its own, the Siddha System which one may rightly claim to be the living example of the scientific credentials of our forefathers.? In Tamil Nadu the Indigenous Systems of Medicine are being used even today by a large number of people and the numbers are growing. The Indigenous Systems are widely acknowledged to be free from side effects, affordable and highly efficacious for many diseases. In fact, the world over there is an increasing interest in the complementary and alternative systems of medicine. This opens up new vistas of opportunities and challenges.

?

The State Government is fully alive to the challenges and the opportunities that the emerging scenario presents. It has taken a number of initiatives to encourage the Indian Systems of Medicines. The basic strategy is to create an enabling environment for these systems to play a complementary role in providing health care to the masses. In the current year, the Government has sanctioned 39 additional wings under Indian Systems of Medicine for the Taluk and Non-Taluk Hospitals.?? Further, Indian Systems of Medicine wings were also sanctioned for 50 Primary Health Centres during the year 2002-2003. The Government proposes to open Indian Systems of Medicine wings in all the Primary Health Centres in a phased manner.

?

Action plan to promote Indian Systems of Medicine

?

The basic approach of the Government is to promote the Indian Systems of Medicine; increase the out reach and credibility of Indian Systems of Medicine; create neutrality in the services offered by the Government Institutions and effectively complement the efforts of the modern side in making available health services to the common man.

?

??????????? In pursuance of this approach the Government has a multi pronged strategy to address the issues of (i) Medical Education,? ii) Research, iii)? making available the Indian Systems of Medicine to the people at the District, Taluk and Primary Health Centre level and? iv) production, standardization of herbal drugs as per the GMP Rules.

?

(i) Medical Education

?

A two-pronged strategy is followed. The Govt. has themselves started Medical Colleges of Indian Systems of Medicine. The Private Colleges are also allowed to come up so long as they conform to the required standard. The annual intake for the Graduate Course in Indian Medicine under the Government Colleges and Private Colleges is 236 and 790 respectively. The Post Graduate Course is offered only in the Government Colleges and the annual intake is 80. The Courses offered by these institutions are detailed below :-

?

Nature of Institution	Siddha	Ayurveda	Unani	Homoeopathy	Yoga & Naturopathy	Total
Under Graduate ? ????? Government ????? Private? ?	? ? 150 90 ?	? ? - 150	? ? 26 -	? ? 50 400 ?	? ? 10 150 ?	? ? 236 790
Post Graduate ? ????? Government ?????? Private ?	? ? 80 -	? ? - -	? ? - - ?	? ? - -	? ? - -	? ? 80 -
Physiotherapy ???????????? Government?? ??????Private ?	? ? - 40	? ? - -	? ? - -	? ? - -	? ? - -	? ? - 40

?

?

Already a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. This is expected to validate the therapeutic value of the formulations selected for analysis. Similarly, in order to tap the available potential within the State, Memoranda of Understanding will be signed with the Universities already having strength in this field.?

(iii) Medical Treatment

?

At present, there are 632 institutions providing medical treatment under the Indian Systems of Medicine. There is an inpatient capacity of 965 beds in respect of these institutions.?

?

A chart showing the comparison of number of patients who availed Indian System of Medicine facilities during 1997 to 2002 (year wise) is available in Annexure 6. There is? a remarkable increase and the increase compared to the census for 1997 is a whopping 75% by 2002.

?

Free Medical Camps

?

??????????? ?In order to popularise the Indian Systems of Medicine free medical camps are being conducted in Districts covering most of the Rural/Urban areas for the benefit of the patients curing all ailments including RTI / STI cases.? The patients are given free medicines and were asked to come to the nearby PHC for the follow up.? During the year 2002-2003, 757 Free Siddha Medical Camps were conducted.? 2,94,962 patients have benefited from these camps. These camps go a long way in increasing the out reach of the Indian System of Medicines.

?

National Institute of Siddha

?

The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken necessary steps to expedite establishment of National Institute of Siddha at Tambaram, Chennai. The Government of India has already released a sum of Rs.4.00 crores. The construction work has been entrusted to the Central Public Works Department. The capital expenditure has to be shared between the State and the Central Government in the ratio of 40:60. As a part of our share the State Government has already given the land measuring 14.78 acres free of cost.

?

Medicinal Plant Board

?

??????????? The Government has constituted the Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plants Board to address the issues connected with conservation and sustainable use of Medicinal Plants, cultivation of Medicinal Plants and export of such products.

?

Pilot Scheme of Home Remedies

?

??????????? The Government of India has sanctioned a sum of Rs.8.03 lakhs to implement the Pilot Scheme of Home Remedies exclusively for Theni District. Under this scheme, simple home remedies based on the Indian Systems will be distributed to rural people? free of cost after identifying the service providers, i.e. Trained Village Health Nurses. The required medicines will be supplied by the TAMPCOL.

?

International Conference

?

The International Conference on the Role of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in 21^st Century was successfully conducted in Chennai with intention to bring the experts of various systems of medicine on one common platform. The exchange of ideas is expected to help in devising a sustainable health solution for mankind.? Over 1200 delegates participated in the conference and nearly 300 scientific papers were received.

?

?

The authorized Share Capital of TAMPCOL is Rs.50.00 lakhs and its present paid up share capital is Rs.20.75 lakhs invested by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Corporation has started paying dividend to the Government from 1998-99 onwards. TAMPCOL has paid a sum of Rs.2.59 lakhs as dividend at the rate of 12.5% to Government for the year 2001-2002.

?

TAMPCOL earned a profit of Rs.37.52 lakhs during 2000-2001 and Rs.46.19 lakhs during 2001-2002.

?

NEW SCHEMES FOR? 2003-2004

?

1.????? Indian Medicine and Homeopathy Wings will be opened in 25 Primary Health Centres at a total cost of Rs.66.11 lakhs.?

?

2.?????Building for payment ward will be constructed at the Arignar Anna Government Hospital for Indian Medicine, Chennai at a total cost of Rs.20 lakhs.

?