Research Methodology component in Ayurveda study curriculum as key for excellence of Ayurveda post graduates

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Research Methodology component in Ayurveda study curriculum as key for excellence of Ayurveda post graduates

Journal Title: Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine - Year 2016, Vol 2, Issue 2

Abstract

The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) is the statutory body constituted under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 vide gazette notification extraordinary part (ii) section 3(ii) dated 10.8.71. Since its establishment in 1971, CCIM is the top agency deciding the course content of Indian Medicine courses such as Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgeries (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgeries (BSMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgeries (BUMS), Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine, Surgeries (BHMS), and Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) and the respective post graduate course (PG) Doctor of Medicine (MD). All the Colleges of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) are affiliated to various Universities in the country are following the minimum standards of education and Curricula and Syllabii, prescribed by the Central Council.[1] CCIM has been making necessary revisions in the syllabus at pace with the requirement of the current scenario in Indian Medicine as evidenced by recent update in the Research methodology (RM) module of the first year PG Ayurveda curriculum. The current syllabus includes almost every aspect of research viz. introduction, general guidelines and steps, preparation of research proposals, scientific writing cum publication skills, classical methods of research, different fields of research in Ayurveda, literary research, laboratory based drug research including drug sources, quality control, standardisation, safety aspects, trends in drug discovery and development, clinical research, pharmacovigilance, bioinformatics, IPR and exclusive topics on medical statistics.[2] The syllabus also includes practical topics on pharmacognosy, phamaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, quality control, biochemistry, clinical pathology, imaging science and clinical protocol development. On implementation of the new syllabus, Ayurveda post graduates will be trained properly to undertake research on Ayurvedic sciences, particularly, on aforesaid allied science topics, along with their clinical research. Scholars specialising in non-clinical subjects can take maximum benefit of these modules in the curriculum so that they can be absorbed in Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industries, either in Research and Development (R&D) or Quality Control (QC) or Production. Many of the colleges running PG courses in Ayurveda, for example, SDM College of Ayurveda Udupi and Hassan in Karnataka, have already implemented the new curriculum. The RM topics from Ayurveda Allied Sciences are taught by well qualified Allied Science Researchers connected to SDM Centre for Research in Ayurveda and Allied Sciences along with complete practical training in the respective laboratories. Practical training include 2 hours of demonstration of about 10 to 20 experiments in Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, one each in 2 hours period. A scholar would be instructed to maintain handwritten manuscript of every experiment in a standard format of laboratory manual which will be evaluated by the researchers. The scholars would also be examined for depth of their knowledge by conducting a viva voce by expert teachers. The practical component of the curriculum is definitely beneficial to the scholars as hands on training are given during the practicals. A scholar who gets through this curriculum will be definitely efficient to undertake R&D activities on principles, practice and drugs of Ayurveda. May every college of ISM implement the recent advances in the curriculum keeping the RM component as key for excellence of post graduates. In long run, we can expect more competent human resources in Ayurveda, as a result of advances in the curriculum, but, every college must have a research and development division with trained manpower to attain these objectives

Authors and Affiliations

Dr. KN Sunil Kumar

EP ID EP596394
DOI -
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