Page 14 - Insurance Times Janaury 2021

Singhel, Managing Director & CEO of "Postgraduate courses in surgery, ENT It has been jointly written by doctors
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance said, and ophthalmology have been there in from All India institute of Medical
"This would transfer the way health ayurved since 20-25 years and we have Sciences, New Delhi, Lady Hardinge
insurance is distributed across the always had surgical OPDs... No one had Medical College (LHMC) and Smt
country." looked into the legality of what has Sucheta Kriplani Hospital (SSK)
been happening for decades. Hospital, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of
Nod for Ayurveda docs to So, after consultation with the ministry Science and Research and researchers
from USA and UK.
do surgeries and Niti Aayog, it was decided to put
it down in writing to make it clear that The paper has highlighted that most
The government has brought out a what is already being done is legal," cancer patients living in rural areas are
notification that will allow Ayurveda
explained Dr Jayant Deopujari the normally required to move to big cities
doctors to be trained and legally
president of Central Council of Indian to receive proper treatment.
allowed to perform a variety of general Medicine (CCIM).
surgical, ENT, ophthalmology, ortho Nationwide lockdowns, imposed late
and dental procedures. "General surgery is a part and parcel March to curb the spread of the
of modern medical science which pandemic, disrupted cancer care
However, the president of the Central
cannot be mainstreamed with delivery services, which led to delays in
Council of Indian Medicine said that ayurveda. Introducing training diagnosis or treatment initiation and
these surgeries have been going on in
modules to the postgraduate treatment interruptions or
ayurveda institutes and hospitals for
curriculum of ayurvedic studies leading rescheduling, resulting in progression
over 25 years and that the notification to titles such as MS (Ayurved) can of disease and poor survival.
was merely to clarify that it is legal.
potentially disrupt and jeopardise the Post pandemic cancer care is also
The notification dated November 19 basic standards of care and safety of expected to be a major challenge for
listed the procedures that will be patients," said Dr P Raghu Ram, oncologists given the increasing number
included in the PG training of Ayurveda president of the Association of of cancer patients awaiting to resume
doctors by amending the Indian Surgeons of India. or start treatment in a strained health
Medicine Central Council (Post
care system, the paper said.
Graduate Ayurveda Education) 100,000 cancer cases likely
Regulations, 2016. It stated that the
amendments were being made with to go undiagnosed every Vaccination plan will cover
the sanction of the central month 30 crore
government. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, there The Covid-19 vaccination roadmap,
During the period of study, post- are chances of approximately 1,00,000 prepared by the National Expert Group
graduate scholars of Shalya tantra cancer cases going undiagnosed per on Vaccine Administration, is ready and
(general surgery) and Shalakya tantra month in India, and the numbers might would cover 30 crore people once the
(surgeries of the ear, nose, throat, change depending on travel restrictions national drug regulator gives
head and eye) will be practically and lack of easy availability of transport, emergency use authorisation to one or
trained to perform various surgical as per a paper published in the Asia more vaccine candidates that have
procedures independently. Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing. applied for it.
General surgical procedures include The paper--Cancer care delivery Also included in the NEGVAC action
amputation of gangrene, skin grafting, challenges in India during the covid 19 plan, still awaiting final approval from
laparotomy (opening up of the Era: Are We Prepared for the post- the government, are persons above 50
abdomen), many advanced gastro- pandemic shock?--inferred that the years of age and those with
intestinal surgeries. Under Shalakya pandemic will eventually lead to comorbidities such as diabetes and
tantra they will be trained to do fairly disease progression in cancer patients, hypertension (irrespective of their
advanced ophthalmic surgeries such as diagnosis at an advanced stage, and age), numbering around 27 crore, said
iris prolapse surgery, squint surgery, thus will have adverse impact on Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan
cataract surgeries of all kinds. patient outcomes. during a briefing here.

14 The Insurance Times, January 2021