Jugalbandhi Of Ayurveda With Allopathy

A one-stop-shop is now available for patients to avail of complex surgeries and rehabilitations, reports Jayata Sharma

Ayurveda and Allopathy—these terms some years ago were not uttered in a single breath. Recent times, though, are witnessing collaboration between the two. Ayurvedic wellness centres — also known as holistic health centres — and hospitals are now having tie-ups for providing pre and post-treatment services to patients. While some wellness centres are establishing their setup at hospitals, others are comfortable providing services to hospitals from their centres.

Why The Collaborations?

Hospitals and wellness centres are now looking for a comprehensive and holistic approach towards treating their patients. Patients who have undergone major surgery always need rehabilitation. “Allopathic doctors cannot assist patients in rehabilitation due to paucity of time. In fact, right now in India, there is no Allopathic rehabilitation centre,” states Dr BG Muralidhar, Director, Trinity Hospital and Heart Foundation, Bangalore.

It has been found that after surgeries in hospitals, Ayurveda has some excellent treatment protocols for recuperation. As a result, most wellness centres are involved in providing follow up and complimentary services to patients.

“We heal patients referred by various hospitals at our centre, which also reduces the average length of stay at the hospitals,” says Dr Issac Mathai, who owns and manages Soukya, a holistic centre in Bangalore. Soukya has a team of doctors qualified in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Allopathy.

“We currently receive patients from Manipal Hospital, HOSMAT Hospital, MS Ramaiah Hospital and NIMHANS,” adds Dr Mathai.

Lotus Pond at Ayurvedagram

Such tie-ups have helped combine traditional healthcare knowledge and practices with the conventional system to make a complete healthcare setup under one roof. “Every system has its own merits and limitations. The idea is to combine all the merits of each system to give maximum benefit and cure to patients,” opines Dr K Jayarajan of Ayurvedagram Heritage Wellness Centre. Ayurvedagram runs an Ayurveda treatment centre —Vydehi Ayurvedagram in Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre — a 1,000-bed multi-speciality hospital at Whitefield in Bangalore. Backed by one of India’s leading Ayurvedic Institutions, Kerala Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd (KAPL), Ayurvedagram is spread over seven acres of herbal garden in India’s Garden city. It is rated among the top five wellness SPAs in India.

Such tie-ups will provide Ayurvedic treatment to patients having critical ailments and who also need life-saving support of the modern medical technology. These tie-ups are also necessary for creating evidence-based documentation on the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment using modern technologies and parameters.

“Public awareness about our age old traditional herbal remedies, its affordability and acceptance have given Ayurveda a boost,” opines Dr H Paramesh, Medical Director, Lakeside Medical Centre & Hospital.

“We provide well-qualified and experienced Ayurveda doctors, qualified Ayurveda therapists, technical know-how to set up and run a wellness centre, genuine medicines and oils and quality assurance of services and medicines. In return, we expect the hospital to provide space, infrastructure, promotional support and marketing,” says Dr Jayarajan.

How It Works

When the patients are done with their surgeries, the hospitals refer them to wellness centres with which they have a tie-up. This applies also to patients who visit wellness centres first. Many patients flocking to these centres come mainly for joint pain, stiffness of joints, arthritis, back pain etc. But sometimes the patient arrives when the problem has aggravated and needs immediate surgical intervention. “At such times, wellness centres refer these patients to us,” says Dinesh Madhavan, General Manager—Marketing, HOSMAT.

"All major hospitals are aware of the therapies we offer" - Aditya Mata General Manager Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort

“All major hospitals in Bangalore are aware of therapies and treatments that we offer and have been recommending us to patients who need them and can afford them,” says Aditya Mata, General Manager, Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort, Bangalore. Angsana operates only at its site. It has various Ayurvedic treatment options for ailments like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, nervous disorders and sciatica. They also use traditional Thai and Swedish treatment methods.

To have a successful collaboration, both sides need to have an understanding in terms of the treatments offered — the quality, the authenticity and the effectiveness, besides the costs that may be involved.

Selection

"Hospitals should accept the Ayurvedic system of medicine" - Dr K Jayarajan Ayurvedagram Heritage Wellness Centre

Wellness centres are mainly targeting hospitals with super specialities. “We provide services according to the specialisation. If a hospital specialises in cardiac surgeries, we provide post-surgery treatments for heart ailments,” says Dr Mathai. “The hospital management and the panel of doctors should recognise/accept the Ayurvedic system of medicine,” says Dr Jayarajan.

As for the hospitals, they look out for centres who have a scientific approach and who can accommodate the ideas of Allopathy. “We require physicians with an integrated Ayurveda degree, which includes certain sections of Allopathy,” informs Dr Muralidhar, adding, “As there is no concept of in-patients in Ayurveda, a fully-dedicated centre for them is not required at the hospital.”

There are many hospitals who still haven’t decided which centre to collaborate with. But they are ready with their requirements. “We will collaborate with centres that can provide focal points for initiating and maintaining state-of-the-art research in various treatments,” avers Dr PP Bapsy, Director, Kidwai Memorial Institute Of Oncology.

“We have collaborations with establishments that are reputed, trusted and have a set of empanelled doctors, besides those which offer value for money and a turnkey healthcare solution,” says Mata. “We study the effectiveness of centres, their results, affordability and their medicinal products and then decide,” adds Dr Paramesh.

Advantages

Although a collaboration of both sections of medicine is not that easy for professionals on either side, this has positive effects. “Many patients come from overseas for Ayurvedic treatment at Bangalore as the healthcare facilities and the climate provide an excellent platform for patients to seek both Ayurvedic and medical treatment,” opines Madhavan.

Hospitals by collaborating contribute their medical expertise and the latest technology in medical care. Wellness centres are able to send their patients to well-equipped hospitals for severe cases of illness. “We could extend the range of treatment with support of multi-speciality modern hospitals,” says Dr Jayarajan. To which Dr Paramesh adds, “Our hospital could initiate research in the combined therapeutic benefit of Ayurveda and Allopathy.”

Also, the collaboration between wellness centres and hospitals is likely to give medical tourism a fillip, as people come to India to undergo surgeries and then recuperate with Ayurvedic treatments. Such tie-ups will definitely ease the treatment and rehabilitation process for foreigners, resulting in their increased satisfaction.

“Benefits are bound to come due to increased healthcare programmes like yoga and stress relief and rejuvenation techniques being taught in MNCs and other corporates for employees,” avers Dr Paramesh.

What Patients Prefer

"The collaborations will surely increase patient flow" - Dr Issac Mathai Owner of Soukya

If the patient needs to undergo medical or surgical treatment they prefer to come to the hospital, but for pre and post hospitalisation they prefer to go to the wellness centre. So, if the hospitals are able to guide the patients to a proper wellness centre, it will definitely lessen the burden on the patient. “Due to these collaborations, the pace of recovery is much faster, and surely this will increase patient flow to Bangalore,” says Dr Mathai. “Since the patient has a dual benefit of opting for both the streams of treatment, they are more likely to come to Bangalore,” feels Madhavan.

Obstacles

While some industry experts think there are no hurdles in having such tie-ups, there are some with a different perspective.

“The top level management of hospitals are open to ideas and hence there is no problem if we get in touch with the right persons,” claims Dr Mathai. “Before having any tie-up, Ayurvedic experts need to know what we actually perform on patients. This is necessary for giving proper follow-up to patients, as ultimately we are dedicated to them. This factor should be taken care of first,” insists Dr Muralidhar. Despite the broad use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments there is a relative paucity of data available to demonstrate convincingly the safety, efficacy, effectiveness and mechanisms of these CAM practices.

Also, Ayurveda and Allopathy come from different school of thoughts. For instance, while Allopathy is against pure ghee for heart patients, Ayurveda feels otherwise. Hence, both fields need to work in sync to provide the best services to patients. In addition, there is a dearth of good quality Ayurvedic experts, which is always dangerous as the demand for them is increasing, but without adequate supply. This might encourage quacks, which is a point of concern. Another factor is the scarcity of funds and manpower. “We have been approached by some individual practitioners but sans proper plans. What we want are scientific and evidence-based ideas which are concrete and convincing,” says Dr Bapsy.

Future Plans

“We are planning to have a tie-up with all reputed hospitals to lend our services. We are collaborating with Dr Naresh Trehan to set up an Ayurvedic centre at his upcoming 1,500-bed hospital in New Delhi,” informs Dr Mathai. As this concept is still in its nascent stage, many organisations have so far not given it a thought. “As of now, we are not thinking of setting up an Ayurveda centre in our hospital premises,” says a spokesperson from Manipal Hospitals and Heart Foundation, Bangalore. “We haven’t planned any tie-up in the near future,” echoes Sandeep Murlidharan, Marketing Manager, Golden Palms Hotel and Spa. Golden Palms offers health programmes that are biological and non-toxic, and it is spread over almost 19 acres of land.

“We are ready to provide the resources necessary for the rigorous scientific investigation of CAM. Right now plans to collaborate with appropriate CAM institutions are on the anvil,” says Dr Bapsy.

There are many challenges and expectations from the wellness centres. It is expected that research conducted at these centres will examine the potential effectiveness, safety and validity of CAM practices, as well as the physiological or psychological mechanisms underlying or contributing to the effects of these practices. Lakeside Hospital is planning to have a separate department, which would benefit the patients in multiple ways.

“We are contemplating tie-up with wellness centres and have discussed with some Ayurvedic physicians and centres like Kottakkal Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Bangalore,” adds Dr Paramesh.

Conclusion

This concept is still in its infancy and on the road to becoming more popular. There is a need for a modern approach to patient care and to change the traditional mindsets of doctors of both the fields. Both need to understand each other’s language to succeed.

Although right now, only around 10 per cent of the hospitals and centres have tie-ups, there is no doubt that this concept will be widely accepted in times to come. The trend is here to stay.

jayata@expresshealthcaremgmt.com