Ayurveda, alternative medicine to gain certified nudges

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH) has sought stakeholder views on the common accreditation standards it plans to issue by June, CEO Atul Mohan Kochhar said. This decision was taken to facilitate the business of wellness centres, he added.

“This is the first time that common guidelines are being introduced for Ayurveda-related hospitals, clinics and wellness centres,” Kochhar said in an interview. Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Homeopathy. There were already different certification guidelines in these areas, but from now on there will only be one, he said.

The proposal comes after the insurance regulator recently brought AYUSH treatment under health insurance coverage. Starting April 1, insurers will be required to develop a board-approved policy outlining their approach to bringing AYUSH treatment on par with other treatments. Currently, there are separate criteria in the AYUSH sector to secure NABH accreditation.

NABH has already drafted the new standards with support from the Ministry of Ayush and the All India Institute of Ayurveda and has asked stakeholders to submit their feedback by April 15. The Mint has confirmed a copy of his NABH notice.

Regi Raj, General Manager and Senior Physician, Amar Tamara Ayurveda Center, Kerala, said the certification gives guests added peace of mind and ensures that our products are in line with the highest standards of safety, efficacy and patient-centricity. This will ensure that patients receive the same care they deserve.

“The need for NABH’s unified accreditation standards for Ayurvedic hospitals arises from the growing demand for standardized and quality medical services in the field of alternative medicine. By achieving accreditation, Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Hospitals have a strong reputation among patients seeking these treatments. can increase trust and confidence,” he added.

Kochhar said Ayush hospitals and clinics are popular in tier-II and tier-III cities, where international tourists visit in search of healing and a better lifestyle. “Accreditation will give these centers a stamp of credibility. We will also encourage them to carry out more scientific investigations and research. From now on, we will focus on different categories of uniqueness. There will be common standards based on this,” Kochhar added.

However, the AYUSH Medical Association (Ayushma) argued that unified certification could lead to confusion.

“Ayurveda is completely different from natural medicine. Every discipline has its own identity and impact on health. Having the same standards for securing NABH certification would create further confusion and ensure that the requirements are not met. It may not. Ayurveda will need different standards from Unani,” Ayushma general secretary Ram Avtar Chaudhary said.

NABH is a constituent committee of the Quality Council of India and was established to establish and operate accreditation programs for healthcare institutions. According to the Ministry of Ayush, India has 3,844 Ayush hospitals under various categories.