Expressing apprehensions about the recent guidelines issued by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicines (NCISM), which pertain to hiring new faculty and acquiring contemporary equipment in existing Ayurveda colleges, the Kerala ISM College Management Association (KISMA) has advocated for the removal of two specific clauses related to these stipulations.
Highlighting the challenges faced by these colleges to *Pharmabiz*, KISMA’s president, Dr. K Thulaseedharan Nair, noted that the equipment procured during the implementation of the 2016 regulations (MSR 2016) remains unused across all institutions. The apparatus, designed for modern medicine education, cannot be employed in Kerala’s classrooms or hospitals without risking backlash from modern medical associations. Each college incurred costs exceeding Rs. 2 crore to acquire these items initially, yet they cannot be repurposed for courses in Kerala.
Dr. Nair explained that the new guidelines threaten the future operations of existing Ayurveda colleges in Kerala. He warned that unless these challenges are addressed, many colleges might face closure in three to four years.
While Ayurveda colleges in northern India are able to utilize this equipment for student training, it’s not feasible in Kerala. Modern medicine educators are largely uninterested in teaching Ayurveda students in ISM institutions.
“Many apparatus intended for modern medicine have remained dormant in Ayurveda colleges since contemporary medical practices by Ayurveda professionals are prohibited in Kerala, unlike in other states. Now, the commission mandates an extensive array of costly equipment to be acquired by Ayurveda institutions, which are likely to remain unused. Therefore, we earnestly request the NCISM to reconsider this directive, at least for existing Ayurveda colleges,” insisted Dr. Thulaseedharan Nair.
He further mentioned that the current faculty and staff strength, comprising over 32 faculty members and 120 non-teaching personnel, makes it impractical for each institution following the new MSR guidelines to hire an additional seven faculty and 20 non-teaching staff. This requirement would create a financial burden exceeding one crore rupees annually. If enforced, these self-financing Ayurveda colleges could face severe financial strain, potentially leading to their closure.
Representing KISMA, the president appealed to the NCISM to carefully reconsider these regulations to protect the future of current Ayurveda medical education in the country.