PHA-Exchange> Rethinking the terms of debates on Traditional Medicine Systems

[Madhulika Banerjee]

Dear friends,

I was heartened to see the issue of Traditional medicines coming up  in
this public health programme.  The key words about these nowadays are
integration, efficacy and need for more research and support. Each one of
these terms,  particularly for those who understand not only politics of
the issues of health but the politics of knowledge of medical systems
everywhere, need to be understood very carefully. 
I would like to share with everyone that I have been resarching on
precisely these questions for many years now, but within the confines of
Delhi University, and not been able to  publish much of it.  I have carried
out an extensive analysis of the postcolonial Indian government's policies
in this arena and many of you may know that the historians of the colonial
period in India have done extensive work too. My work has alerted me to how
much the keywords in the current debate are products of the policies
followed by modern states and international organisations. Take
'integration' for example. It is worth asking: what would be the terms on
which integration happens? and why does it seem to be a given that the
traditional medical systems would need to be integrated in to the modern
healthcare systems? Given that the TM are older and in some ways wiser and
also that the definitions of health seem to be having to move towads those
already provided by them, rather than away or ahead of them, it is worth
asking whether 'integration' shouldn't it be taking place the other way
round. 
The other, equally important question that needs to be understood in a
complementary way to that of policy, is that of the market. How do the big
'herbal pahrmaceutical' companies influence the market and in what
direction of usage of the systems do we think they are heading off to? Is
mass production and proving the efficacy to modern doctors essential to the
survival of Traditional Medicinal Systems?
I am currently finishing the first draft of a manuscript precisely on this
subject-- all discussion would be welcome.
Regards,
Madhulika.
Madhulika Banerjee
XB4 Sahvikas Society,
68 I.P.Extension,
Delhi 110092.  INDIA
Phones (work): +91-11-6499019
Answerphone (home): +91-11-2443430