Recent scenario of Homeopathy in India
From its introduction in India by a French Physician, Dr. Honigberger till today, Homeopathy has survived the tests of time. There are clear signs that homeopathy has been recognised as an authentic system of medicine. Today, more and more people are becoming aware of it and are experiencing its wonderful cures. Its phenomenal success has been witnessed and appreciated not only in India but by the entire world.
The World Health Organization has recognized Homeopathy as an accepted system of medicine and second largest system of medicine in the world.
India has the highest number of homeopathic colleges, highest number of practitioners and highest number of patients in the world. There is no doubt that India is the best place to learn homeopathy. In fact, India is No. 1 in world as far as Homeopathy is concerned. Under the department of AYUSH, there are 245 homeopathic hospitals, 6958 dispensaries, around 2.4 lakhs registered practitioners, 185 UG and 33 PG colleges in India (As on 1/4/2010).
Homeopathic doctors contribute approximately 31% of total AYUSH doctors. As far as Government Hospitals are concerned, Homeopathic hospitals contribute close to 7.5% of total number of AYUSH hospitals. In respect to number of beds, Homeopathy constitutes 15.4%.
Foreign export of AYUSH medicines in the year 2009-10 amounts to Rs. 2887.01 crore. Total import of AYUSH medicines is 346.22 crore. Compounded annual growth rate of export of total AYUSH medicines from 1995-96 to 2009-10 is 12.63%. Though the department can give more importance to Homeopathy in respect to hospitals and dispensaries, the expenditure on Homeopathic institutes show that Homeopathy is getting its due share of attention from the government thereby marking its rising familiarity.
In 2011-12, the Plan outlay for health is 26760 crore. This outlay constitutes among others 17,840 crore under the NRHM and 2356 crore for schemes/projects in the north-eastern region and Sikkim. This is Rs 3,567 crore (15 per cent) more than Rs 23,560 crore in the budget estimates for the current year.
The government also seeks to develop and promote the Indian system of medicines in an organized and scientific manner by involvement/ integration of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) systems in national health-care delivery and has allocated 900 crore plan outlay for it in 2011-12. The 38th Report of the Public Accounts Committee (2006-07) has seriously pointed out that the share of AYUSH in the total health plan at the central level has been only 2% in-spite of the policy pronouncement of raising AYUSH share to 10% with designated growth of 5% in every Five-Year Plan.
This has led to projected allocation of Rs. 47535.55 crore, during 12th Five Year plan (about 12 time-hike from 11th Plan allocation), to pave for effective implementation of projects in strategic thrust areas identified above and to step up the process of mainstreaming of AYUSH.
This clearly indicates that Indian government extends full support to homeopathy and homeopaths along with other alternative sciences. This promises a bright future for homeopathy in India.
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