CONTENTS
- E-SANJEEVANI
- AYUSH 64 AND KABASURA KUDINEER
E-SANJEEVANI
Focus: GS III- Health
Why in news?
Ex-Defence doctors will now provide online consultation on e-Sanjeevani OPD to all citizens of the country.
What is E-Sanjeevani?
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched two variants of eSanjeevani namely – doctor to doctor (eSanjeevani AB-HWC) in the hub and spoke model and patient to doctor (eSanjeevani OPD).
- E-Sanjeevani OPD (out-patient department) is a telemedicine variant for the public to seek health services remotely; it was rolled out on 13th of April 2020 during the first lockdown in the country.
- e-Sanjeevani OPD is a Govt of India flagship telemedicine platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), Mohali under the aegis of MoHFW, Govt of India.
- It provides free consultations to any Indian citizen.
- However, with covid cases surging, the demand for doctors is up while the supply has reduced due to doctors being pulled out for covid ward duties.
- It enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real-time.
- At the end of these remote consultations, eSanjeevani generates electronic prescriptions which can be used for sourcing medicines.
- Andhra Pradesh was the first state to roll out eSanjeevani AB-HWC services in November 2019.
Benefits of telemedicine
- Transportation: Patients can avoid spending gas money or wasting time in traffic with video consultations.
- No missing work: Today, individuals can schedule a consultation during a work break or even after work hours.
- Childcare/Eldercare Challenges: Those who struggle to find care options can use telemedicine solutions.
AYUSH 64 AND KABASURA KUDINEER
Focus: GS II- Health
Why in news?
Ayush Ministry launches nationwide distribution campaign of AYUSH 64 & Kabasura Kudineer.
About AYUSH 64:
- In the middle of the havoc wreaked by second wave of the pandemic, AYUSH-64 has emerged as a ray of hope for the patients of mild and moderate COVID-19 infection.
- The scientists of reputed research institutions of the country have found that AYUSH 64, a poly herbal formulation developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush is useful in the treatment of asymptomatic, mild and moderate COVID-19 infection as an adjunct to standard care.
- It is worthwhile to mention that initially the drug was developed for Malaria in the year 1980 and now is repurposed for COVID-19.
- The Ministry of Ayush-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) collaboration has recently completed a robust multi-centre clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AYUSH 64 in the management of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.
- In all clinical studies, AYUSH 64 was found to be well tolerated and found clinically safe.
About Kabasura Kudineer:
- Kaba suram [fever due to kaba disorders]. This product is a siddha medicine used when fever is associated with Kapha Dosha.
- Kapha Dosha usually afflict the respiratory system. Hence, it is used in the treatment of respiratory disorders associated with fever.
- It is especially useful when fever is associated with cough, cold and difficulty in breathing. This medicine is traditionally used for treating a varieties of flu.
- It is subjected to clinical trials for studying the efficacy in Covid-19 patients by Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) under Ministry of Ayush and is also found useful in the treatment of mild to moderate covid-19 infection.
About Sidhha Medicines
- Siddha medicine is a system of traditional medicine originating in ancient Tamilakam (Tamil Nadu) in South India and Sri Lanka.
- Traditionally, it is taught that the siddhars laid the foundation for this system of medication.
- Siddhars were spiritual adepts who possessed the ashta siddhis, or the eight supernatural powers.
- Agastyar is considered the first siddha and the guru of all siddhars; the siddha system is believed to have been handed over to him by Shiva.
- Siddha is focused on “Ashtamahasiddhi,” the eight supernatural power. Those who attained or achieved these powers are known as Siddhars.
- There were 18 important Siddhars in olden days and they developed this system of medicine.
- The Siddhars wrote their knowledge in palm leaf manuscripts, fragments of which were found in parts of South India.
