As the country battles the TB menace, a parliamentary panel has suggested that Ayush system of medicines can play a significant role in supporting, educating, guiding and referring TB patients for diagnosis and treatment, especially in remote areas where allopathy healthcare has remained inaccessible.
The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in its 149th report on implementation of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, also asserted that the ayush professionals with their wider reach can facilitate an outreach of National TB Elimination Programme to remote areas.
“They can play a critical role in counselling the patients regarding nutrition and preventive care as well as importance of treatment adherence to complete the course of treatment, regular monitoring and post-treatment recovery,” said the panel chaired by the Member of Rajya Sabha, Bhubaneswar Kalita.
“Therefore, the Committee impresses upon the government to promote the integration of the Ayush practitioners in TB management programmes.
Further, the research in the traditional system of medicines should be encouraged promoting the inclusion of evidence- based practices in conventional TB care,” added the report.
During the interaction with officials of the Union Ministry of Ayush, the panel members were informed that the Ayush system of medicines, which encompasses traditional and non- conventional methods of healthcare such as Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-rigpa and Homoeopathy, can play a supportive role in the management of TB.
Ayush providers are primarily engaged in the referral of presumptive TB cases and treatment support, such as screening for TB, counselling, treatment adherence, among others
All Ayush Medical Officers posted through NHM at health centres as well as in other programmes (such as the RBSK), and those posted through the Ayush Ministry at dispensaries and Ayush hospitals are encouraged to actively screen for presumptive TB cases and refer them to nearest diagnostic health facility (DMC/ NAAT site) for TB testing as per programme policy, the panel was told.
TB clinics/chest clinics are linked with Ayush providers at co- located facilities to effectively counsel TB patients (for nutrition, de- addiction and treatment adherence counselling) at Ayush clinics post- examination/ consultation.
Ayush providers are authorised to ensure that all TB patients seeking care at facilities linked to the National Ayush Mission and under the Ayush department in the States are linked with the National TB Elimination Program to support ensuring treatment adherence actively.
During the follow-up visits, Ayush practitioners also look for common side effects associated with anti-TB medication and counsel or refer the patients as needed, the panel was informed.
At the same time, the panel suggested “the success stories of TB treatment in the Ayush system of medicines should be authenticated and publicised for the information of masses.”