Advantages:
1. Upgrading our status to ‘complete doctors’
World over and Nationally, we (alternative medicine practitioners – BAMS, BHMS, BUMS – do not get the same recognition and status as the MBBS counterparts even though in terms of time and effort we invest the same – 5 & 1/2 years of basic education for the undergraduate course
Having knowledge of the MAINSTREAM system of medicine will only add to our arsenal and allow us to put our neck out and speak something without being ridiculed for the lack of knowledge
2. Similar status will result in similar pay scale:
BAMS, BHMS graduates who work hard as RMOs or other jobs in similar sectors are not paid a salary or remuneration at par with their MBBS colleagues. This can change if the syllabus becomes equivalent.
This itself will make a major difference to the livelihood of many doctors and subsequently their families.
The far-reaching impact of this can not be undermined for the emotional solidarity of a few
3. Better opportunities:
As per my personal experience in multiple rural sectors – there is a stark requirement for good doctors to provide better healthcare to the ever-expanding Indian populace!
MBBS doctors are now serving a 5 years compulsory rural posting. The current Government intends to create 1,24,000 more Primary Health Centres. Especially those where Alternative Medicine practitioners would be allowed.
This job opportunity represents an immense shift in potential financial outcomes as well as health care possibilities.
4. Better ability to diagnose, monitor and treat patients:
From knowing the side-effects better, to confidently conversing with the area GP/FP/ Consultant about the prognosis viz-a-viz side effects! There is no such thing as a Doctor who knows everything!
Knowledge can never go waste and this is vital knowledge of what your prospective patients are ingesting ! & it effects.
I am not going to delve into ‘tapering’ doses – because I am not sure that:
A: It would still fall under our purview, as per law
B: We should let the person who has been trained for it, deal with it.
Jiska jo kaam hai usko woh karne do
Just because you can wield a screwdriver doesn’t mean you become a carpenter.
Same way a diabetologist is the EXPERT at tapering the dose. Let them do it. and GUIDE us – now that we would understand their vocabulary better.
Let us focus on showing BETTER results with Homoeopathy
5. Practical scenario
90% of the students who opt for BHMS do so out of TINA factor. They will now have a better sense of pride since they will be better qualified.
Even today, BHMS graduates RAMPANTLY practice Allopathy. Risking their careers and reputation while doing so (medicolegally).
NOTHING we have done in last 20 years has changed this situation. We have neither helped them adopt Homoeopathy better, nor protected their interests better.
Even when not taught allopathy, they have found their way, taken efforts and are practicing that.
We should be confident about our science. If we are so sure that Homoeopathy works, then we must continue proving it to the world, such that those who think of taking up allopathy, see the results themselves – and decide what they want to practice!
And I believe we HAVE done that – we have many Modern Medicine practitioners SUPPORTING, even converting to Homoeopathy.
6. Stepping Stone
I hope this becomes the first step of a major change – where after maybe a decade we see only ONE unified course for Undergraduate Doctors – MBBS (or the like). So that every undergraduate is a COMPLETE CLINICIAN and DOCTOR first.
& Homoeopathy – as a system of therapeutics can be OPTED for as a Post-graduate specialization. Only then will we have a more refined, focussed set of individuals who will opt for our Science by CHOICE & INTEREST.
Without a doubt such individuals would come with a more firm understanding of the science of medicine and thus produce even better results with Homoeopathy.
7. Emergency and Limitations:
As is already mentioned by our master – Dr. Samuel Hahnemann – Homoeopathy has limitations. Something we often conveniently ignore in our quest for other gains. It is not all pervasive. Suspended Animation and other such non-dynamic conditions need the use of anti-pathy & allopathy.
The knowledge of these will only make us BETTER DOCTORS.
By law all doctors are required to be able to perform a delivery! What more great contribution than BRINGING a life to the world.
BAMS graduates are also able to perform surgeries.
Maybe we shall get more empowered too !
Disadvantages:
1. Law – one can perceive this as a disadvantage – that once BHMS graduates have a working knowledge of modern medicine and the above mentioned advantages are granted – the LAW will be UNIFORMLY applicable to us then. Which, if we are not well versed, can be a double edged sword.
That is for us to prepare for
2. More number of practitioners opting for NOT practicing Homoeopathy: As I mentioned earlier, it hasn’t stopped them today. Things are no different today. We may perhaps we blessed with staunch practitioners only!
As for dark days of Homoeopathy:
– The dark day of Homoeopathy was when Embryology was removed from our syllabus – and Homoeopaths who can modify genes with medicines weren’t unfortunately blessed with solid backgrounds in their undergraduate days!
– The dark day of Homoeopathy was when Biochemistry was reduced (pun intended) to a formality – and our basic foundation was left on unstable ground.
– The dark day of Homoeopathy was when PSM was shifted to 4th year syllabus instead of setting the foundation early on. PREVENTION needs to be known well before TREATMENT
– The dark day of Homoeopathy was when Forensic Medicine was reduced to a formality – and today we still struggle with Medical Jurisprudence and Death Certificate formalities
– The dark day of Homoeopathy is EVERY year when close to 60 Doctors graduate from 190+ (43+ in Maharashtra alone) Homoeopathy Colleges all throughout the country – which are predominantly paper colleges and the students who graduate do not have basic understanding of Anatomy and Physiology – let alone Clinical Examination.
And worse, most of us here – have done our M.D. from such colleges!
