Govt of India order regarding grant of Recognition to the various streams of Alternate Medicine.

The Government of India,

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Research Desk)

vide orders no. R14015/25/96-U&H (R) (Pt.) dated 25th November, 2003 .

For the convenience of the general public the relevant para of the Government of India orders dated 25th November, 2003 is reproduced below:

The Committee developed essential & desirable criteria for grant of recognition to a new stream of medicine and analyzed the different streams of alternative medicine viz Ayurveda, Siddha Unani, Homoeopathic, Yoga & Naturopathy, Electropathy/ Electrohomoeopathy, Acupuncture, magnetotherapy, Reiki, reflexology, Urine Therapy/ Autourine Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Aromotherapy, Colour Therapy, Pranic Healing, Gems & Stone Therapy and Music Therapy.

The Committee did not recommend recognition to any of these alternative medicines except the already recognized traditional systems of medicines, viz. Ayurveda, Siddha Unani, Homoeopathy and Yoga & Naturopathy which were found to fulfill the essential & desirable criteria developed by the Committee for recognition of a system of medicine. The Committee has, however, recommended that certain practices as Acupuncture and Hypnotherapy which qualified as modes of therapy, could be allowed to be practiced by registered practitioners or appropriately trained personal. The Committee further suggested that all those Systems of Medicine not recognized as separate Systems should not be allowed to continue full time Bachelor and Master’s degree courses and the term “Doctor” should be used only by practitioners of Systems of Medicine recognized by the Government of India. Those considered as Mode of Therapy can be conducted as Certificate courses for registered medical practitioners to adopt these modes of therapy in their practice whether modern medicine or Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy”.

In view of the above it is hereby made clear that those persons who are doing practice in any of the unrecognized pathies shall be suitably dealt with under the relevant provisions of law.