Even though Ayurveda is popular and well-established in the South Asian region, still, many people, scientists, and medical doctors in the Western world do not know the potentials of Ayurveda or any other traditional medicine systems in the Asian world. Let’s explore the recognition of Ayurveda at global level and the legal structure to regulate Ayurveda practice and Ayurveda practitioners in Sri Lanka. The author believes that sharing the knowledge of the establishment of the legal regulatory structure and the implementation process for regulating the service quality of Ayurveda would help build up the trust of the public and the Western world.
Recognition of Ayurveda on the world platform.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, U.S. uses different types of complementary and alternative medicines for their integrative medicinal practices. This gives additional recognition and value to the hospital and its research making a significant success of their new evidence-based therapeutic methods. These traditional alternative medicines have specific therapeutic approaches that have been practiced for centuries worldwide. The demand for Ayurveda medicine in Countries like England, Japan, and Germany is growing fast at present. The World Health Organisation (WHO) established The WHO Global Traditional Medicinal Centre (GTMC) in 2024 with the support of the Government of India showing respect for local heritages, resources, and rights. GTMC strategically focuses on evidence-based learning, data, analytics, sustainability, equity, innovation, and technology to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and sustainable development. Ayurveda plays a key role in this strategic plan. According to WHO Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage, “There are millions of accredited traditional medicine professionals and facilities that could significantly scale up national health systems capacities. We need a stronger evidence base – as a foundational WHO priority- to enable countries to develop appropriate regulations and policies around traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine to ensure safe and effective use and equitable access to benefit”. This is good encouragement for the Sri Lankan Ayurveda sector as it shows we are working through the right pathway with our available university-level Ayurveda education system and legal framework.
What is the legal framework of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka?
The Ayurveda Act no. 31 of 1961 establishes a department of Ayurveda, which oversees the registration of Ayurvedic hospitals, pharmacies, dispensaries, stores, and herbariums. The quality and standards of service provided by these institutions are regulated by the Ayurveda department. Additionally, the Act provides for the establishment of an Ayurveda medical council to register Ayurveda practitioners, Ayurveda pharmacists, and Ayurveda nurses. This council plays a major role in ensuring their professionalism and quality of service. The Ayurveda College and Hospital Board, which regulates Ayurveda teaching institutions, is established by the Ayurveda Act and operates under the Department of Ayurveda. The Ayurveda department has established an Ayurveda research committee to oversee research in Ayurveda. This provides a clear legal framework for Ayurveda and ensures the high-quality practice of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka. It encompasses all the requirements for regulating the indigenous medicine sector within the context of the Western scientific world.
The term Ayurveda includes Siddha medicine, Unani medicine, Desiya Chikitsa (Traditional Sri Lankan Medicine), and any other indigenous system of medicine in an Asian country. Therefore, in future, the term “Ayurveda practitioner” will encompass all the categories mentioned above. You might be wondering about the quality control of Ayurveda drugs and formulas. Do they have any standards for drug quality or composition? Ancient Ayurvedic Sanskrit texts have provided guidelines and regulations to control the quality and standards of Ayurveda. However, to comply with Sec.41 (2) (c) of the Ayurveda Act and to align with the modern pharmacopeial framework, the Sri Lankan Ayurveda Department has published the Ayurveda Pharmacopeia under the direction of the Ayurveda Research Committee.
The category of Sri Lankan registered Ayurveda physicians and their qualifications.
- Traditional Ayurveda (general or special) certificate holders- qualification to get registration, an applicant should have 10 years of practical experience under a registered Ayurveda doctor and pass the interview or 5 years of practical experience and the interview with the council exam.
- Ayurveda Diploma/Sasthri (DA) holders- 3 years of study in non-university level institutions pass the council exam. This category has been identified as questioning the quality of qualification of Ayurveda doctors.
- Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery degree (BAMS) holders-
Successful completion of five years of university study and completion of One-year internship. This is the category that has combined knowledge of Allopathic medicine, Indian Ayurveda, and Sri Lankan traditional medicine.
By Dr. (Mrs.) Nadeeka S. Perera,
MPA (PIM-SJP-SL), BAMS(UOC-SL), Dip. In Counselling (IOP-SL)
Ayurvedic Physician, Dunedin, New Zealand.
