1 | Alternative Medical Care - Bangladesh Alternative Medical Care The election manifesto of the present ruling party states, promise for expanding the scope of moderniz ed alternative medicine (unani, ayurvedic and homeopathic systems) , to compliment the health care of the people. Alte rnative Medicine has been playing a significant role in the health care delivery system in the developing coun tries of this region from time immemorial. Although tremendous progress has taken place in the field of allopathic medicine particularly in synthetic pharmaceuticals and antimicrobials, the p ractice and use of alternative medicine is being co ntinued throughout the country even today. Bangladesh due t o its climatic condition is a favorable home for gr owth and use of herbal medicines. The World Health Organization is providing financial and technical support for the i mprovement of unani, ayurvedic and homeopathic system of medicine in Bangladesh. There are two undergraduate medical colleges for al ternative medicine in Dhaka. One is Government Unan i and Ayurvedic Degree College and the other is Homeopath ic Degree College. There is an affiliated 100-bed h ospital with each of the colleges. The duration of course for ea ch is 5 years followed by one year internship. The degrees are BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery), BAMS (Bac helor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) and BHMS ( Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery). In addition to t he graduate colleges, there are 11 unani diploma co lleges (10 private and one government), 7 ayurvedic diploma co lleges and 38 homeopathic diploma colleges in Bangl adesh. From the diploma colleges DUMS (Diploma in Unani Medicin e and Surgery), DAMS (Diploma in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) and DHMS (Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) certificates are offered after complet ing 4 years of academic course and six months of internship. The diploma certificates are offered by the Board of Un ani and Ayurvedic System of Medicine and Board of Homeopath ic Medicine. Table-1 summarizes the academic and tr aining institutions for alternative medicine in Bangladesh . Table-1. Academic institutions for teaching and tra ining of alternative medicines in Bangladesh Name of the AMC institute No Duration of course Duration of internship Degree offered Certifying board Total Government Private Government Unani & Ayurvedic Degree College 1 1 0 5 years 1 year BUMS Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery); BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) University of Dhaka Homeopathic Degree College 1 1 0 5 years 1 year BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) University of Dhaka Unani diploma college 11 1 10 4 years 6 months DUMS (Diploma in Unani Medicine & Surgery) Board of Unani & Ayurvedic System of Medicine Ayurvedic diploma college 7 0 7 4 years 6 months DAMS (Diploma in Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) Board of Unani & Ayurvedic System of Medicine Homeopathic diploma college 38 0 38 4 years 6 months DHMS (Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) Board of Homeopathic Medicine To create opportunities for providing patient care services through alternative medicine, posts for 198 medical officers have been created. The med ical officers are 66 for unani medicine, 66 2 | Alternative Medical Care - Bangladesh for ayurvedic medicine and 66 for homoeopathic medi cine. These medical officers are now working in the district hospitals. To assist the me dical officers, 64 support personnel (compounders) have also been appointed. To grow med icinal plants and create awareness of the local people about on medicinal plants, 467 dem onstration herbal gardens have been established, one in each district hospital and upaz ila health complex premise. One herbal gardener (herbal assistant) has been appointed for each herbal garden to take care of the gardens. As of now a total of 531 alternative medic al care (AMC) health personnel and staffs are working at different places. They are against 7 29 sanctioned posts. According to a survey conducted in 2007-08, about 28% of treatment covera ge in the government health facilities is being provided through alternative medicine. Apart from the government services, some of the graduates and diploma certificate holders are worki ng in different NGOs and private organizations. Table-2. Current human resource for alternative med icine Name of post Sanctioned Filled up Filled up as % of sanctioned Vacant Vacant as % of sanctioned Medical officers for unani medicine 66 20 30% 46 70% Medical officers for ayurvedic medicine 66 22 33% 44 67% Medical officers for homeopathic medicine 66 16 24% 50 76% Compounders for alternative medicine 64 48 755 16 25% Herbal assistant for herbal gardens 467 425 91% 42 9% Total= 729 531 73% 198 27% There is a post of medical officer on alternative m edicine in each 100-bed and 250-bed hospital. For each 50-bed district hospital, one post of medi cal officer already exists. The government is considering a proposal for creating one medical off icer post on alternative medicine in each upazila health complex. Dr.m.moosa ahmed PhD.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:08:54 +0000