Association of Ayurvedic physicians of India (AAPI) is formed to encourage the advancement of the study, education, research and knowledge of Ayurveda i.e. the Indian system of medicine, and to promote/ popularize the practice of Ayurvedic therapeutic modalities at all levels; also to represent as the mainstream organization for the practitioners of Ayurveda.
AAPI has started its activities with a modest beginning with 50 Founder Life Members. More and more Ayurvedic doctors are invited to become a member of this new Association. You can know more about AAPI through its web site www.sapi.org.in and can also download AAPI membership form. AAPI is publishing its Quarterly Journal under the title “Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine (AAM)” which is indexed with DOAJ and UGC CARE. It has launched an online brainstorming dialogue among the Ayurvedic fraternity to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Ayurveda, besides challenges and opportunities before it. The Association is organizing frequent group and mass meetings of Ayurvedic practitioners in Ayurvedic institutions and with the public to create awareness about Ayurveda. It also attempts to uplift the image of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic doctors, besides trying to motivate its members to improve their style of functioning and work culture. AAPI plans to approach Governmental agencies and policy makers to accelerate the process of meaningful mainstreaming of Ayurveda and to provide it and its member’s rightful place, besides attempts to sustain the upsurge of interest in Ayurveda out side India for its timely globalization in right perspective.
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005
Vice chancellor – Prof. Lalji Singh
Dean – Prof. C. B. Jha
Institute of Post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar, Gujarat
Vice chancellor – Prof Medhavi Lal Sharma
Director – Prof. M. S. Baghel
It is estimated that there are nearly 450000 registered practitioners of Ayurveda in India and there are about 250 Ayurvedic colleges / Institutes with approximately 12000 UG and 1200 PG Annual Admission seats. There are over 8000 licensed pharmacies manufacturing classical and branded Ayurvedic medicines with a reflected domestic annual turnover of Rs.10, 000 crores and an export of over 1000 crores. In spite of this huge infrastructure the whole sector continues to remain sick and unorganized and is still out of the main stream of the health care delivery system of this country in contrast to our neighbor country China where the traditional Chinese medicine is well placed as mainstream Medicare. All this warrant a concerted effort at all levels to raise the status of Ayurveda and its main streaming. Ever since the department of AYUSH has been established in the Govt. of India some efforts are being made at Governmental level but there is a lot of things which need to be done at non Governmental levels and by professional organizations so that a right image may be projected and a true public awareness may be created.
There have been several Associations and Organizations active quite for some time in this sector. Ayurveda Mahasammelan and National Integrated Medical Association are the two major professional organizations at all India level representing two different ideologies and are associated with two different kinds of Ayurvedic practitioners.