Siddha's Ascent: Traditional Medicine and Public Health Policy in India 🇮🇳🌿
Category: Siddha Public Health Policy & Research |
The global healthcare discourse is shifting towards integrating Traditional Systems of Medicine (TSM) for holistic well-being. India’s Ministry of AYUSH promotes Siddha—a centuries-old Dravidian system—as a crucial component in public health policymaking, tackling Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and advancing localized primary care.
Industry Present Situation: AYUSH and Siddha’s Integration 📈
Medical pluralism shapes India’s healthcare, with AYUSH systems, including Siddha, co-located in PHCs, CHCs, and Hospitals under the National and AYUSH Health Missions. Siddha drugs like Kabasura Kudineer have gained prominence, yet challenges in standardization and clinical evidence remain.
Trend and Scope of Siddha Research and Medical Colleges 🔬🎓
Siddha research emphasizes evidence-based validation for chronic diseases, collaborations with premier institutions like ICMR and AIIMS, and innovative digitization projects preserving palm leaf manuscripts. NCISM promotes curriculum modernization, blending Siddha philosophy with modern public health to produce integrative-care-ready practitioners.
Current and Future Opportunities in Siddha Medical Research 💡
- Preventive health via lifestyle modification aligning with global NCD combat strategies.
- Integration in Ayushman Arogya Mandirs as frontline health counselors with standardized Siddha protocols.
- Future use of AI, big data, and literature mining for predictive analytics, personalized medicine, and drug discovery.
- WHO ICD-11 inclusion elevates Siddha’s international research and medical tourism prospects.
Support Offered from Government and CSR 🤝
- Government: NAM supports infrastructure, human resources, medicines, Centres of Excellence, CME, EMR, and PHI programs.
- CSR: Emerging investments in mobile clinics, sustainable medicinal plant cultivation, and public awareness campaigns enhance Siddha’s integration and outreach.
A Short Case Study: Siddha’s Role in an Epidemic Response 🦠
Siddha, through Kabasura Kudineer, played a pivotal adjunct role during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by AYUSH. This boosted public acceptance and positioned Siddha as a credible partner in epidemic management and integrated disease prevention frameworks.
Conclusion ✅
Siddha’s evolution from regional heritage to national policy pillar reflects India’s integrative health vision. Backed by proactive government, modernized research, and rising demand, Siddha is becoming a cornerstone of accessible, affordable, and holistic health, poised for substantial public health impact.