World Homoeopathy Day

Dr M Nara Singh *

The Homoeopathic fraternity worldwide celebrates the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician who discovered the Principles of Homoeopathy two centuries ago and developed it as a gentle healing system of medicine. Dr Samuel Hahnemann was bom on the 10th of April 1755.

Therefore, this 10th of April has been observed as "World Homoeopathy Day" by the Homoeopathic fraternity all over the world. On this day, the fraternity organizes various symposia, road shows, medical camps, conferences and memorial events to popularize the strength of Homoeopathy.

This year The Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LHMI), a registered professional organization established in 1925 representing Homoeopathic physicians of more than eighty countries of the world, has designated India to organize the World Homoeopathy Day.

The objective of this convention is to deliberate on the existing scenario of Homoeopathy in India and other countries, develop strategies for formulating national policies, strengthening the existing base of safety, quality and effectiveness, high quality medical education, interdisciplinary and international research co-operations, evidence based clinical practice and to promote appropriate integration of Homoeopathy into health care delivery system to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) declared by the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-23.

Why India has been selected for the purpose?

India has highly commendable infrastructures of about 195 teaching institutions affiliated to various universities, a regulatory council for maintenance of education standard and clinical practice, autonomous research council with 28 institutes including one Regional Research Institute (H) New Checkon Road, Imphal.

There are more than two lakh fifty thousand registered practitioners in India, about 7500 primary health centres, drug safety regulations, pharmacopeia laboratory and good manufacturing practice, compliant drug manufacturing industry are the major strength areas. This model of integration is unique and ideal for replication by other countries for providing holistic and affordable health care along with respective traditional medicines in accordance with WHO Strategy of Traditional Medicines.

Homoeopathy in India today is integrated in the National Health Care Delivery System. Govt. of India has established AYUSH Ministry to give focused attention for the growth & development of compulsory and alternative medicine. Thus India has a pluralistic health care to meet the ever growing demand in health sector.

Lastly, I would like to make a mention here that sometimes some people used to write articles negative to the reality of Homoeopathy which is based on an infallible Law of Nature i.e. Similia Similibus Curentur meaning thereby similar is cured by similar. Even Dr. Hahnemann was chased by his professional rivals to prosecute him and as such he had to flee to France from his birth place i.e. Germany.

It has been seen that there are vested interests in some circles to go on writing derogatory articles that will hamper the progress of Homoeopathy. Not only that, some of Dr. Hahnemann's followers were victims of physical assault during his life time.

Despite all these obstacles Homoeopathy has advanced considerably and it has become the second largest system of Medicine in the world today. We must also remember the reason why the "Father of The Nation" Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated for his high secular credentials. I hope the 21st century will reveal the truth in Homoeopathy as a special branch of Medical Science.