[“Beyond Tomorrow” was a programme organized by the Doordarshan, New Delhi – linking for the first time different distant places e.g. New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad, Patna, etc.  This programme took up one important issue at regular intervals and invited participants; later if the suggestions were worthwhile they were called for recording - one or two only from each place. 

The following is the gist of my presentation in the T.V..  There was very interesting interaction too.  The status of Homœopathy remains same today as it was in 1986 = KSS.  June 2011].

“BEYOND TOMORROW”:  Discussion on Health Care:  Recording on 29^th May 1986 by Madras Doordarshan

(Human Body is Biological & Psychological)

In all discussions on health or medical care of the people only one School of Medicine is being involved – that is, Allopathy.  Other medical schools like Homœopathy are ignored.  This attitude hinders achievement of Health for All.  This should change.  The fear that other systems of medicine will not render quality health service is baseless.

(they are called quacks!)

Homœopathy is a well established and time tested medicine, capable of taking full part in Preventive and Social medicine.  Homœopathy has these advantages:

Low cost medicine

Easy oral administration

Acceptable by all including infants and by people of every religion or creed

Has no adverse effects whatsoever and is therefore safe under all conditions

It does not create drug dependence

The medicines do not require special storage facilities like refrigeration

It has a very very long storage life

It does not need high cost equipments

The medicines are known by their generic names and not by trade brands.

The advantages are so clear that it is surprising as to why Homœopathy is not used as widely.

The Government and voluntary health services organizations should therefore consider encouraging this medicine and not ignore or suppress it.  Mass media should involve other systems like Homœopathy in their discussions.

About sending doctors to the villages, I suggest that the existing village medical practitioners – irrespective whether they practice Homœopathy, Traditional medicine, Ayurveds, Unani, Siddha or any other – should be encouraged to improve their skills in the medicine they practice.  These village medical practitioners – wherever they are available – must be given some guidance and training and they can be made better health care practitioners.  Since they already command the faith of the local people and are in touch with them all through, feedback etc. will not be a problem.  There are Government constituted Councils for different schools of Medicines who can draw up the programmes for this work.  Review the position at intervals.  Amongst the so-called “Alternative Systems of Medicine” Homœopathy is, in my experience, capable of doing excellent work in Preventive and Social Medicine easily and at much less cost.  Of course basic hygiene and sanitation and nutrition are not to be ignored.  Advices on these can be given by every rural (or urban) medical practitioner and not necessarily by a medical graduate.

Try this suggestion for an year and judge by results.

[P.S.:   Unfortunately the attitude of the Govt. and the Hegemony medicine – Allopathy – has not changed at all; neither the Homœopathy Fraternity has bothered to bestir and arm itself to take greater part in Voluntary Health Services.  In fact the situation has, in my opinion, become worser now 2012 = KSS.]