Editorial

Considering the number of American tourists who make a bee-line for Ayurvedic massage and treatment in the holiday resorts, the attempt by the Government of India to create awareness of Ayurvedic Science among those in medical profession in foreign countries is welcome news.

We are aware of the families of the great Vaids who practice Ayurveda, doctors who take up homeopathy for social service, and Siddha and Yoga Acharyas for curing diseases and maintaining good health. What we lack is sheer numbers.

However, if the benefits have to percolate down to the masses, the government may have to open medical colleges for every system. The easier and faster method is to identify the experts in the field, request them to open and run those colleges with grants from the governments   state and central. Of course land and building and infrastructure will be needed. But to run them one needs men. Materials

and money will not build institutions. Massive efforts are needed to solve the colossal problem of lack of medical facilities in the villages of India. Cost of medical treatment is breaking the back of even higher middle classes. Have we forgotten that the government is by the people, for the people?

Doctors for tourists, Panchakarma without prescription, MRI and x-rays as a substitute for the stethoscope, prescription of medicines untested in the country of discovery and equating the cost of the medicines with their effectiveness   all these must be banned. To help the people, the governments, the centre as well as the states, can do a lot by involving in their welfare programs, the professionals who are top in every field of medicine. One can depend upon them to take us out of the straits.

Swaminathans and Kurians of medical professions should be asked to come to the front to start a Dhanwantari Revolution for the people, similar to our green revolution and white revolution