On suggesting changes to holistic healing courses.

August 26, 2006

Dear Friends, I wish to thank each and one of you who have responded to my appeal. However many of you are not very sure of what should be done. I know it is difficult to come to any decision so early. I did my own investigation by visiting the local ayurvedic and homeopathic colleges and tried to talk to the students and the teachers. The teachers talked only at their private residences. The students say; 1. They were not at all aware of the nature of what they were going to be taught when they joined the institutes. Therefore it took them a long time to adjust to the basic concepts when the courses started. 2. The main difficulty lies in the philosophical content of the courses which they found very difficult to follow. 3. Lack of competent teachers who could explain their doubts was

a great obstacle. 4. They felt they needed more individualised coaching preferably in a clinical set up. 5. The dual nature of the course, teaching them wholism and again reductionism, was very confusing. 6. Lack of proper infrastructure like good laboratory facilities, good hostel facilities, good libraries was a great hindrance. 7. Examinations are frequently delayed and not conducted satisfactorily. Results are also not out in time. 8. Facilities for continuing education was almost non existent. 9. There is no placement facilities and they are left out in the cold after completing the course. There is no attempt of any kind to employ them. Even candidates shortlisted for government jobs end up not getting them. As most of them are not financially strong enough to open their own clinics

and pharmacies, they feel they face a very bleak future after studying so much and for so long. The teachers said ; 1. Lack of funds was a major problem. 2. There is nobody to listen to their problems like scarcity of teaching staff and laboratory technicians. 3. They have no say in course designing. 4. Students are forced to do their house surgeonship in allopathic hospitals. 5. Students find it difficult to grasp the underlying philosophical concepts. 6. Quality of students seeking admission to holistic courses is not satisfactory. Students feel that learning holistic therapies would not give remuneration enough to lead a decent life. 7. It is difficult to teach the courses in the vernacular as most students

are not comfortable with the high level of language in texts by foreign authors. 8. It is difficult to teach both reductionism and wholism. 9. People not trained in holistic therapies have flourishing clinics while trained doctors struggle to get a foothold. 10. Established doctors give no time towards training the graduates in clinical practice. 11. There is need to have more holistic hospitals with all facilities so that students can get their practical training and also improve chances of employment. I could talk to very few teachers. Well, the above difficulties are very serious and need to be addressed. Though the government is now waking up for the need to have a good infrastrructure in place for the growing demand of the patients, the efforts seem to be insufficient. I request you all again to comment on what I have put forth in this letter. The above, I know, are only general observations. Let us discuss things in a more detailed manner. Love & Regards, Jagannath. jagchat01 jagchat01(at) "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

How low will we go? Check out Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.