Ayurvedic doctors should halt prescribing western medicine – health minister

Health, nutrition and indigenous medicine minister Rajitha Senaratne says Ayurvedic doctors should immediately halt prescribing western medicines.

The minister said so at the recent handover of 107 primary Ayurvedic doctor appointment letters at the Bandaranaike Medical Research Institute in Nawinna.
 
He said, “The Ayurvedic degree too, is a medical degree. Do not go to compare it with the degree of western doctors. This degree too, is very important. You protect the traditional medicinal method that has been there for 2,500 years. I do not know if there were health problems then. With the introduction of the Western medicinal system, many side effects were evident. North Korea is having its indigenous medicinal system up to now.

It has a healthy population. India’s Kerala state too, has an indigenous medicinal system. China’s medical science too, is very developed. I am ready to introduce the Chinese medical science to Sri Lankans. Do research on Ayurvedic medicinal system. Teach the traditional medicinal methods without withholding anything. Early next year, I am visiting North Korea to study its indigenous medicinal system. I do not have any bounds in my politics. I want to develop the indigenous medicinal system. I work with a global mentality.”