The South India Naturopathy Practitioner’s Association conducted a membership drive to bring the self -taught naturopathy practitioners under one umbrella of their association. The objective is to pressurise the government to modify the draft guidelines issued by the Centre and begin Central registrations which have been stalled.

The drive was conducted at the South India Naturopathy Conference held recently.

While on the one hand, self-educated Naturopathy practitioners (those who have learnt Naturopathy outside structured courses in universities) are demanding  relaxation of procedures, those who are institutionally qualified are demanding for stringent clauses on the other. 

Only degree holders can register with the Karnataka State Council for Indian Medicine currently.

But under the Draft Guidelines of Registration of Naturopathy Practitioners and Accreditation of Naturopathy Colleges, (circulated in September 2006 by the Centre and which the State can implement as it is or modify) there is a provision to register experienced, self-taught practitioners as well, explained a source at the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) established under the Ministry of Health.

However, there have been few takers for the draft guidelines for Central registration-- only Madhya Pradesh has modified the draft and started registering Naturopathy practitioners, he pointed out.

“There is strength in numbers and self-educated practitioners can pressurise the State Government to modify certain clauses and follow it up as it is being stalled,” said Managing Trustee of Arogya Mandira Trust, Holistic Health Centre, B N Brahmacharya.

Authentication issue

The guidelines state that those who hold Diploma in Naturopathy or Degree in Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences from specified universities can apply for Class A registration. In exceptional cases, Class A registration will be given to self-educated practitioners with at least 25 years of work experience in reputed Naturopathic hospitals or colleges.

For Class A and Class B registration (for self educated practitioners) the work experience has to be verified by the District Medical Officer. Many naturopathy practitioners don't work in full-fledged hospitals and how can a District Medical Officer authenticate this?, Mr Brahmacharya argued.

On the other side of the fence, Dr Naveen, assistant professor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, said there are areas of ambiguity in the draft guidelines which need to be cleared. The procedure needed to be more stringent; otherwise, a lot of quacks can get registered and tarnish the credibility of the entire system, he felt.

Meanwhile, the association plans to collect data on the work done by its members and is approaching the authorities.

There is a need for 600 Yoga and Naturopathy graduates to introduce Yoga and Naturopathy courses to medical and paramedical institutions of Karnataka according to Dr Naveen. Currently, there are only 50-60 graduates passing out every year.