More patients seeking alternative medicine

Dubai: The perception towards complimentary medicine is changing positively with more residents seeking treatments for a range of ailments either as the only option or in conjunction with mainstream medicine.

The change in perception is attributed to strict licensing procedures, resulting in qualified practitioners and better treatment outcomes.

Complimentary medicine referred to as TCAM (Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine) by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Dubai Healthcare Authority (DHA) includes ayurveda, homoeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Unani medicine and naturopathy among others.

According to the Ministry, TCAM is growing in private medical sectors and TCAM practitioners are being employed in private medical centres, polyclinics and even major private hospitals.

To understand the reasons for TCAM’s steady growth, Gulf News spoke to a few practitioners.

Dr Mukesh Batra, founder of Dr Batra’s Positive Health Clinics specialising in homeopathy, Dubai, said: “The practice of homeopathy was approved in 2001. A large number of people in UAE relied on homeopathy even earlier, and many would bring homeopathy medicines (or call for it) from other countries. The good part is that now many major healthcare establishments have started incorporating a homeopathic section in their institutions.”

Chandy George, Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant at Balance Wellbeing 360, Dubai said, “In the UAE specifically, since 2005, there has been a marked growth in the number of people who opt for Ayurvedic therapies on a regular basis. Though initially dismissed as just another fad, of recent it has been noticed that people better understand the tangible and long term benefits of alternative medicine, especially Ayurveda.”

To explain the factors affecting TCAM’s perception, Dr Parviz Rashvand, naturopathic medicine practitioner, Synergy Integrated Medical Centre, Dubai, said that there are many reasons including a growing emphasis on chronic illness and lifestyle-related morbidity as well as a focus on a holistic approach in treatments.

=“The growth is also due to cases in which conventional medicine may be perceived to be less successful while alternative medicine may appear to have much more to offer. Another important reason for its growth is the increased migration and transmission of established medicines like Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, etc from other countries,” he said.

Dr Maria Ridao Alonso, physician in Chinese medicine and medical director at the Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre, added: “Since 2009 we have each year an increase of over 30 per cent new patients. This shows us that the general benefits-awareness of complementary medicine has improved.”