Gram vaidyas to get govt recognition

Traditional healers or 'gramvaidyas' like bone setters and midwives will now get government recognition as regular medical service providers for certain specific illness in the villages.

Healers specialising in jaundice treatment, Vata Roga and skin diseases are also among those identified for the purpose of 'certification' after due evaluation of their skills, Anil Jauhri, Director, National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies, said.

"The Planning Commission has allocated funds for the project for development of framework for certification of traditional healers or gramvaidya.

"The motive is to endorse the skills and competence of traditional healers who do not have any formal education or experience but excel in rural areas because of their competence," he said.

IGNOU, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions in Bangalore and National Accrediting Board for Certification Bodies are involved in the development of this project.

"NABCB will help design a evaluation system whereby it will help in certification of such healers. Since they do not have any formal education, they will be evaluated on the basis of their skills and competence," Jauhri said.

Since these healers will have to successfully demonstrate their skills to get recognised, plans are also afoot to include their peers in the evaluation process.

Jauhri said, "Suppose we wish to give certification to a midwife, we can ask another group of midwives to evaluate if she is competent and good in her field or not."