Patanjali Approaches Delhi HC Seeking Inclusion Of Ayurveda In MBBS Curriculum

Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Research Institute has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to be impleaded in the PIL filed by Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking the adoption of an Indian holistic integrated medicinal approach.

Patanjali has sought direction to the Centre to take steps for inclusion of Ayurveda in the curriculum of MBBS.

In its plea filed through Athena Legal, Patanjali has stated that Ayurveda has proven to be beneficial for various diseases and that it has been used for helping in the management of acute and chronic diseases.

The plea further stated that as per Patanjali the best way to encounter the problem of disease is by adopting a holistic integrated medicinal approach comprising a combination of modern medicine along with traditional and complementary medicine at the level of education, training, practice and policies and regulations to enhance the status of the health care sector in India.

It also added that Ayurvedic medicines are not only documented in Ancient texts but there is a large body of scientific evidence accumulating that testifies the effectiveness of these medicines against several chronic diseases.

"That the applicant/intervenor herein therefore, by way of instant application, prays that the Respondent No. 1 be directed to take the disease seriously and consider all opportunities available at its hands and not blindly follow the path of allopathic medicine even if there is evidence contravening the same, without any further delay.", the plea by Patanjali read.

The plea sought directions to the Centre to mandatorily include Ayurveda in the curriculum of medical students pursuing MBBS and other medical courses. It further added that the benefit of such inclusion would be to allow a practitioner to provide a potential patient with the option of opting for treatments under ayurvedic medical systems along with the current medical treatments commonly prescribed.

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had approached Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre to adopt the Indian Holistic Integrated Medicinal Approach. It was stated that an Integrated Health System is the only solution to achieve the sustainable health goal of India. (read report)

The plea also added that the suggested holistic integrated medicinal approach will favor the financially deprived section of the Indian population as this approach will be pocket friendly with high reach and will be able to cover the dense population of the country.

The petitioner had prayed for a direction to the Centre to constitute an Expert Committee having Experts of Allopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy to examine the Integrated Healthcare Approach of the developed countries and particularly China and Japan.

Cause Title- Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Others

Click here to read/download the application