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Lokendra Singh
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 Chairman,
Council of Ayurveda
Government of Nepal
Department of Health
Integrating Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems
Nepal
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Lokendra Singh (Nepal) has had a long and distinguished
career in academia and as a practicing physician. He holds
qualifications in Ayurvedic medicine and was the Dean of
the Ayurvedic Faculty at the prestigious Banaras Hindu University
in Varanasi, India. Currently, Dr.Singh is the Chairman
of the Council of Ayurveda, Department of Health, Government
of Nepal, and Chairman of the Himalayan Ayurveda Research
Institute.
Dr. Singh is considered an expert in the field of Ayurvedic
surgery and Ayurvedic education. He has been a WHO consultant
on traditional medicine and holds various advisory positions
with government bodies and educational institutions in both
India and Nepal. Dr Singh's research interests include Ayurvedic
education and training, conservation of medicinal plants
and preservation of indigenous medical systems.
Dr. Singh is the author of many articles, several books,
and has contributed papers at numerous conferences. Dr Singh
has toured internationally to promote Ayurvedic theory and
practice and has worked at universities in America, Australia,
Nepal and India.
Dr. Singh's outstanding contribution to the field of Ayurveda
has been recognized with numerous awards, including the
Certificate of Excellence from the National Sushruta Association
(India) in 2000, Award of Honour from the University of
Banaras (1998), and Award of Honour from the National Integrated
Medical Association (NIMA) India (1998). Dr Singh is a Fellow
of the National Academy of Ayurveda (India) and a member
of the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
Selected Publications:
· Singh, Lokendra (2001) Crisis in Ayurvedic Education.
Journal of the National Integrated Medical Association,
India, March.
· Singh, Lokendra (2001) Philosophical Background
of Ayurveda - Cognitive View of Reality. AYU International
-Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda. Gujarat Ayurved
University Jamnagar India, January.
· Singh, Lokendra, Contributor (1999). Kalatattvakosa
- A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts
Vol IV (Manifestation of Nature Srsti Vistara). Indira Ghandi
National Centre for the Arts & Motilal Banarsidass Publishers,
Delhi India.
· Singh, Lokendra Contributor (1996). Kalatattvakosa
- A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts
Vol III (Primal Elements - Mahabhuta). Indira Ghandi National
Centre for the Arts & Motilal Banarsidass Publishers,
Delhi India.
· Singh, Lokendra Contributor (1997). Health in Nepal
- Realities and Challenges. Resource Centre for Primary
Health Care, Kathmandu, Nepal.
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The Integration of Traditional and Orthodox Medical
Systems
Over two decades ago, the World Health Organization made
the well known "Alma Ata" declaration that there
should be an international effort to achieve a level of
health for all people, that will permit them to lead a socially
and economically productive life, by the year 2000. It is
now disturbingly clear that this goal has not been reached,
and that health discrepancies have even widened in that
time.
A potential reason for the failure to achieve "health
fors all" could be the lack of acknowledgement of traditional
medical knowledge, and the subsequent neglect of a valuable
aspect of health care delivery. The incorporation of traditional
doctors and medicinal plants into a primary health care
model is not only cost-effective, but utilizes available
resources in a socially and culturally sensitive manner
The World Health Organization estimates that traditional
medicines are used as the primary form of treatment by at
least 60% of the world's population. However, the potential
of indigenous treatment methods to improve public health
is currently undervalued, which has negative consequences
for the quality and equity of global health. If traditional
medicine is not adequately integrated into policy frameworks
for health care delivery in developing nations, the irreplaceable
social capital accumulated over generations will be squandered.
This research will explore the potential for traditional
forms of medicine to be integrated into orthodox (modern)
medical delivery systems, in order to improve the delivery
of health services in developing nations. Nepal will be
used as a case study, with comparative data obtained from
India and China. The outcomes of this research may have
applications in many developing nations, including those
of Asia, Africa and South America. In addition, indigenous
medical systems can offer a rich source of information for
alternative treatments in developed countries.
The research will:
· Consider different models used to integrate traditional
medical practices into health care delivery systems;
· Identify strengths and weaknesses of such models;
· Establish the roles of various players in this
process;
· Develop a new collaborative perspective for the
provision of integrated health care; and
· Encourage a mutual exchange of knowledge between
medical disciplines, between countries and between developed
and developing nations.
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| NCS Scholars, Midterm Meeting, Mexico. |
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NCS Scholars Lori Leonard and Seggane Musisi during first Global Health Summer Course Meeting.
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| Conferences & Workshops Calendar |
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