OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT:

1) To provide Medicare facilities to the people of the State through Ayurvedic, Unani and Homoeopathy systems of medicine.
2) To impart quality education at Graduation and Post Graduation level though the Medical Colleges of Ayurvedic, Unani and Homoeopathy systems of medicine to produce qualified medical practitioners in these systems of medicines.
3) To manufacture quality Ayurvedic, Homoeopathy and Unani Medicines through the Government Pharmacies and make them available on free of cost to the patients coming for treatment to Hospitals and Dispensaries being run by the Department under these (3) systems of medicine.
4) To regulate the manufacture and sale of Ayurvedic, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs in accordance with law.
5) To monitor the quality of Ayurvedic, Unani and Homoeopathy Drugs being manufactured or sold in the state.
6) To maintain the State register of Medical Practitioners in Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy.

AYURVEDA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE:

Ayurveda (Ayu + Veda) means the Science of Life. The documentation of Ayurveda is referred to in Vedas (5000 BC). The origin of Ayurveda or the Indian Science of Life is linked with the origin of Universe and developed from out of the various Vedic hymns describing fundamentals/philosophies about the world and life, diseases and natural medicines. Around 1000 B.C, the knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented in Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. According to Ayurveda, health is considered a pre-requisite for achieving the goals of life, i.e., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (salvation). Ayurveda takes an integrated view of the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of human beings, each impinging on the others.

The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the theory of Panchmahabhutas (five element theory) of which all the objects and living bodies are composed of. The combination of these five elements are represented in the form of Tridosha viz., Vata (Ether+ Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kaph (Water + Earth). These three Doshas are physiological entities in living beings. These are also known as three humours. The mental, spiritual and physical attributes are described as Satva, Rajas and Tamas.

The doctrine of Ayurveda aims to keep these structural and functional entities in a functional state of equilibrium which signifies good health (Swastha). Any imbalance due to internal or external factors causes disease and restoring the equilibrium through various techniques, procedures, regimen, diet and medicine constitute the treatment.

Ayurveda considers the human being as a microcosm (Yatha pinde tatha brahmande), a replica of macrocosm (Universe).

This Department is managing the following institutions to provide health care services through Ayurveda:

AYURVEDA COLLEGES:

There is (1) Ayurveda College. This colleges is offering 5 ½ years BAMS course. There are teaching Hospitals attached to each College. The details of the intake of the College and beds in the attached teaching Hospital are given below:

MINI AYURVEDIC HOSPITALS:

Besides the teaching hospitals, there are mini-hospitals located at Banaganapally in Kurnool District with (10) beds and Allur in Nellore District with (5) beds.

AYURVEDA DISPENSARIES:

There are (333) Ayurvedic Dispensaries in the State. These are mostly located in rural and interior areas. Usually the staffing pattern of a Dispensary includes (1) Medical Officer, (1) Compounder and (1) Class-IV employee.

YOGA & NATUROPATHY:

Yoga is primarily a way of life propounded by Patanjali in a systematic form. It consists of eight components, namely, restraint, observance of austerity, physical postures, breathing exercise, restraining of sense organs, contemplation, meditation and samadhi

These steps in the practice of Yoga have potential for improvement of social and personal behaviour, improvement of physical health by encouraging better circulation of oxygenated blood in the body, restraining the sense organs and thereby inducing tranquility and serenity of mind. The practice of Yoga prevents psychosomatic disorders/diseases and improves individual resistance and ability to endure stressful situations. Meditation, one of the eight components, if regularly practised, has the capacity to reduce wholesome bodily responses to a bare minimum so that the mind can be directed to perform more fruitful functions.

Though Yoga is primarily a way of life, yet its promotive, preventive and curative interventions are efficacious. A number of postures are described in Yogic works to improve health, to prevent diseases and to cure illness.

The physical postures are required to be chosen judiciously and have to be practised in the right way to derive the benefits of prevention of disease, promotion of health and for therapeutic purposes.

Naturopathy is not only a system of treatment but also a way of life. It is often referred to as a drugless treatment of diseases. It is based mainly on the ancient practice of the application of the simple laws of nature. The system is closely allied to Ayurveda as far as its fundamental principles are concerned.

UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE:

The Unani system of medicine, as its name indicates, was first developed in Greece. The Arabs and Persians introduced this system of medicine in India sometime around the 11th century. Today, India is one of the leading countries in so far as the practice of Unani medicine is concerned. It has the largest number of Unani educational, research and health care institutions. This is also an herbal-based medicine system.

The Unani System emphasises the use of naturally occurring, mostly herbal medicine and uses also medicines of animal, marine and mineral origin.

MINI UNANI HOSPITALS:

There are (2) mini Unani Hospitals functioning at Kurnool and Adoni (Kurnool Dist.) with bed strength of 10 and 10 respectively.

UNANI DISPENSARIES:

There are (74) Unani Dispensaries throughout the State. These are mostly located in rural and interior areas. Usually the staffing pattern of a Dispensary includes (1) Medical Officer, (1) Compounder and (1) Class-IV employee.

HOMOEOPATHY SYSTEM OF MEDICINE:

Homoeopathy is a specialized method of drug therapy of curing natural diseases by administration of drugs, which have been experimentally proved to possess the power of producing similar artificial symptoms on healthy human beings.

Physicians from the time of Hippocrates (around 400 B.C.) observed that certain substances could produce symptoms that they were used to treat.

However, it was a German doctor, Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755 -1843) who examined this observation more thoroughly, discovering the fundamental principles of what was to become Homoeopathy.

Homoeopathy simply means treating diseases with remedies, usually prescribed in minute doses, which are capable of producing symptoms similar to the disease when taken by healthy people. Homoeopathy is a rapidly growing system. In India it is recognized as one of the National systems of medicine. Due to its low cost and low side effects, it is becoming very popular day by day and has a great potential to provide health care to the large number of poor population.

The following institutions are functioning under Homoeopathy system of medicine:

HOMOEOPATHY COLLEGES:

There are (3) Homoeopathy colleges offering 5 ½ years BHMS course. The following are the details of student intake and bed strength in the attached teaching hospitals of these colleges:

HOMOEOPATHY DISPENSARIES::

There are (192) Homoeopathy Dispensaries in the State. These Dispensaries are also located in rural areas spread in all Districts. The staffing pattern is same with (1) Medical Officer, (1) Compounder and (1) class-IV employee.

All these systems of medicine in the state are under the administrative control of Department of AYUSH. This Department is headed by a Commissioner with (3) Additional Directors (Ayurveda, Unani & Homoeopathy) to assist the Commissioner in technical matters. Besides, (4) Regional Deputy Directors are stationed at the following places:

1. Visakhapatnam

2. Eluru

3. Ongole

4. Kadapa

The total Institutions functioning under the control of this Department at a glance:

SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE:

Siddha system of medicine is the most primitive medical system. This system was formulated and established about more than 25000 years back by the emminent powers called Siddhars and hence the name Siddha Medicine .The medicines were prepared by the various research work done by the Siddhars on herbs,minerals and animals. Siddha medical system doesn't consider treatment and prevention separately. The main aim of this system is prevention of disease, as it is well said that "Prevention is better than cure!".

IMPLEMENTATION OF N.R.H.M (National Rural Health Mission)

Introduction & Goals:

Recognizing the importance of Health in the process of economic and social development and improving the quality of life of our citizens, the Government of India has resolved to launch the National Rural Health Mission (N.R.H.M) to carry out necessary architectural correction in the basic health care delivery system. The Mission adopts a synergistic approach by relating health to determinants of good health viz. segments of nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and safe drinking water. It also aims at mainstreaming the Indian systems of medicine to facilitate health care. The Plan of Action includes increasing public expenditure on health, reducing regional imbalance in health infrastructure, pooling resources, integration of organizational structures, optimization of health manpower, decentralization and district management of health programmes, community participation and ownership of assets, induction of management and financial personnel into district health system, and operationalizing community health centers into functional hospitals meeting Indian Public Health Standards in each Block of the Country.

The Goal of the Mission is to improve the availability of and access to quality health care by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women and children.

In A.P. state, it is proposed to provide AYUSH Facilities in all the PHCs and CHCs in a phased manner over a period of (3) years i.e., 2007-08, 2008-09 and during 2009-10. Every year AYUSH facilities are being established in PHCs/CHCs. So far (582) AYUSH Dispensaries have been established as shown below: