FUTURE OF HEALTH LIES IN HARMONY: INTEGRATING TRADITION, SCIENCE, AND NATURE

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Picture Courtesy:  THEHINDU

Context

Global challenges emphasize that lasting wellbeing requires a harmony between human health, environmental stability, and sustainable development.

What is 'Harmony in Health'?

"Health in Harmony" represents the integration of diverse medical philosophies and practices, emphasizing collaboration rather than competition or substitution.

It is built on three complementary pillars:

• Modern Medicine excels in acute care, diagnostics, surgery, trauma, and pharmaceuticals, founded on scientific evidence and standardised protocols.
• Traditional Knowledge Systems (AYUSH, folk medicine) offer insights into preventive care, lifestyle, diet (Ahar), and long-term well-being.
• Nature-Aligned Living links human and environmental health (Planetary Health), promoting sustainable diets, clean environment, green spaces, and natural biodiversity for resilience.

Pressures on Current Health Systems

Rising Lifestyle Diseases: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases are increasing due to modern lifestyles, leading to substantial healthcare burdens.

Climate Stress: Environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change directly impact health through respiratory illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and nutritional deficiencies, creating new health challenges.

Mental Health Burdens: About 197 million citizens (one in seven) have a mental disorder.  The economic loss due to mental health conditions in India is estimated at $1.03 trillion between 2012-2030. (Source: PIB)

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): India records one of the highest rates of drug-resistant infections globally. A 2025 Lancet study found over 80% of Indian patients carry multidrug-resistant organisms. 

• AMR contributed to an estimated 267,000 attributable deaths and 987,000 associated deaths in India in 2021. (Source: WHO)

These escalating challenges push health systems towards comprehensive, preventive, and holistic care models that traditional systems excel in.

India's Journey with Integrative Medicine

India has a rich heritage of traditional medicine, including Ayurveda, Siddha, and Yoga. However, the dominance of biomedicine during the colonial era sidelined these systems. 

Recent policy actions have initiated a revival, positioning India as a global leader in integrative health.

• National Health Policy (2017): Officially advocated for integrating AYUSH systems into mainstream healthcare, promoting a "three-dimensional" approach to patient care.
• National Ayush Mission (NAM): A centrally sponsored scheme focused on improving AYUSH education, standardizing drug quality, and increasing access to AYUSH services across the country.
• WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM): Established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, this is the first and only global outpost for traditional medicine across the world. It aims to build a solid evidence base for policies and standards on traditional medicine practices.

Strengths of Traditional vs Modern Medicine

Challenges to Building a Harmonious Health System

Trust Deficit and Siloed Approach: A historical lack of communication and mutual respect between practitioners of Allopathy and AYUSH systems hinders collaboration.

Weak Regulatory Framework: There is a need for robust regulation covering the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal products, along with standardising practitioner qualifications and preventing quackery.

Lack of Scientific Validation: Insufficient funding and focus on clinical trials, biochemical analysis of traditional medicines, and pharmacovigilance limit their acceptance in mainstream science.

Misinformation and Commercialisation: Exaggerated claims and aggressive marketing by commercial entities without scientific backing can harm public trust and patient safety.

Fragmented Institutional Coordination: Poor integration between different ministries (Health, AYUSH, Environment) and research bodies prevents a cohesive policy approach.

Way Forward

Robust Regulatory Oversight: Establish a unified regulatory body for all medical systems to enforce standards for education, practice, and drug quality. 

Integrated Medical Education: Introduce foundational, cross-disciplinary modules in both MBBS and BAMS/BHMS curricula to promote mutual understanding and respect. Encourage joint research projects in medical colleges.

Research-Driven Ecosystem: Allocate adequate funding for research that uses modern tools like genomics, AI, and biotechnology to validate traditional therapies. Create a national database of medicinal plants and their properties.

Public Health Integration: Integrate AYUSH professionals into primary health centres (PHCs) and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to lead programs on nutrition, lifestyle disease management, and mental wellness. Example: Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Leveraging the 'One Health' Approach: Connect human health with animal and environmental health. Promote policies for clean air, preservation of medicinal biodiversity, and sustainable food systems as core public health strategies. The National One Health Mission is a step in this direction.

Conclusion

The "Health in Harmony" model for the future healthcare system integrates the accuracy of modern science, the preventive wisdom of tradition, and the resilience of nature to create an equitable, affordable, and effective system capable of tackling rising NCDs and environmental challenges.

Source: THE HINDU