You can soon take up 5-yr course on naturopathy, yoga

MUMBAI:IN a first, the Maharashtra government plans to start a five-year yoga and naturopathy course from the next academic year (2019-2020). The course — Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yoga Sciences (BNYS) — will impart formal training to students interested in pursuing alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine offers treatment of and prevention from several diseases and is gaining popularity. However, due to a lack of a government-approved course in Maharashtra, people end up consulting untrained practitioners with fake degrees.

Students from the state have to go to neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan to get a degree to practice in the state. Welcoming the step, Dr K Satya Laxmi, director, National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, said, “It will stop exodus of naturopathy enthusiasts.”

Officials from the state medical education department said that Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) is currently finalising the syllabus.

“However, after completion of the course, the BNYS practitioners will neither be registered as medical practitioners nor will they be able to use the prefix ‘Dr,’ while continuing their private practice,” said officials from Directorateofmedicaleducation and Research (DMER).

Graduates are likely to be absorbed by the upcoming AYUSH hospitals in Nandurbar, Pune and Ahmednagar or the AYUSH wellness centres which will have special yoga and naturopathy departments at Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune and Yavatmal under National AYUSH Mission (NAM).