Establishment of DIM&H
CIMH
The Commissionerate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (CIMH) provides health care services in the systems of traditional medicine such as Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy and Homoeopathy. They also run institutions which teach the above systems.
The DIMH implements the policies, laws, regulations and programmes formulated by the Government of Tamil Nadu with the aim to improve the delivery of health care through the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISMH) and development of medical education. The main objectives of DIMH are to provide Siddha and other Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy medical facility at all levels of health care system viz., Primary, Secondary and Tertiary, improve ISMH medical education in both public and private sector and encourage ISMH research and bring its services under the main stream. The department is also responsible for Research, regulation of drug manufacturing and quality control of Indian System of Medicine to ensure availability of quality drugs to the public.
Tamil Nadu is the only state in the country where Government Medical Colleges have been established for all the disciplines of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy. Siddha, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani and Homoeopathy, offer a wide range of holistic treatments covering preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and rejuvenate needs. Now-a-days, the Indian systems of medicine has attracted increasing attention globally due to public acceptance and cost effectiveness. Being used for centuries and with a continuous tradition of acceptance and practice Indian systems of medicine have a wide impact in the state health care. Hence it is an important component of modern health care system-playing a significant and indispensable role.
Administrative Structure
The department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu in the year 1970. The main objective of this department is to impart quality education for the UG and PG degree courses of Indian Systems of Medicine which includes all the five systems (Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy, Yoga & Naturopathy).
The major role of this department is to provide best treatment in the five disciplines of Medicines to the general public through the 1,541 hospitals. The Commissioner / Director is the head of this Department. He is assisted by Joint Director, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer, Deputy Director (Admin), Assistant Director (Admin), Scrutinizing Medical Officer (Siddha & Unani) and Special Officer (Translation). The Assistant Director is the Drawing and Disbursement Officer in respect of Commissionerate. The District Siddha Medical Officers are the Drawing and Disbursing Officers in respect of their jurisdiction. The Director (Research and Development), The Principals, District Siddha Medical Officers, Arignar Anna Hospital of Indian System of Medicine Superintendent and Director of Varma are functioning under the Direct Administrative control of the Commissioner / Director. There is one Research and Development Wing in Arumbakkam, Chennai to facilitate the faculties and students of Indian Systems of Medicine Colleges in the field of research and it is headed by Director (Research and Development) and assisted by Assistant Director (Research and Development).
There are seven teaching institutions in Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in the State viz., the Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, the Government Siddha Medical College, Chennai, the Government Homoeopathy Medical College, Thirumangalam, Madurai and Government Unani Medical College, Chennai, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Chennai, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Kottar, Nagercoil and International Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy Medical Science, Chengalpattu. There are 22 District Siddha Medical Officers who control over the Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy and Yoga and Naturopathy Wings at District Head Quarters Hospitals, Government Medical College and Hospitals, Taluk and Non Taluk Hospitals and Primary Health Centres.
There are two pharmaceutical units functioning at Arignar Anna Government Hospital of Indian Systems of Medicine, Chennai and Government Siddha Medical College Hospital, Palayamkottai which manufacture Indian Systems of Medicines for free supply to patients. State Licensing Authority (ISM) is the drugs enforcement authority exclusively for Indian Medicine.
A school for Indian Medical System was set up in 24.11.1924 to impart courses covering Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha Science. This is considered as the first formal institution of Indian Medicine in the State. In 1964, Government Siddha Medical College, was set up in Palayamkottai.
The department of Indian Medicine was set up in the year 1970 to develop the Indian System of medicine in an integrated style along with Arignar Anna Government Hospital of Indian Medicine, with 110 beds, in the same campus to provide integrated medical services.
Indian system of Medicine has developed to be an inevitable component of the health care system playing a vital role in providing health care services is alignment with natural lifestyle practices to the Public in the State.
The Department has seven (7) Government Medical Colleges under its direct control and 44 private colleges covering all the five streams functioning in the State of Tamil Nadu as on date. The medical education system of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy has an integrated approach in the state.
The main objective of the Commissionerate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy is to implement the policies, laws, regulations and programmes formulated for the development of medical education and clinical services in the Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy. The Commissionerate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy delivers health care services to the public in Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy and Homoeopathy at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and promotes research activities for development of medical education in Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy. Tamil Nadu is the only State which established Government Medical Colleges in all disciplines of Indian System and Homoeopathy. The Indian System of Medicine is the traditional medicine continuously in vogue for centuries in the country now attracts the global attention among foreign nationals & Indian diaspora.
Indian System of Medicine comprising of breaks:
The axiomatic saying in Tamil “உணவேமருந்து”rightly depicts the significance of the balanced diet cereals and spices in our daily food cycle from the time immemorial. The Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy is synonymous with “AYUSH”(Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) operates on the principle that “prevention is better than cure” for better health and preservation of nature. The Siddha system is the proud contribution of our Tamil ancestors to the world. Further, these Indian Systems of Medicine is providing to relief even for chronic ailments and control pandemics. The world is witnessing a resurgence of traditional systems of medicine due to the holistic approach to health followed by these treatments. Yoga & Naturopathy Services is very popular among the public in Tamil Nadu. Unani Medicine is very efficient in certain diseases. Hall mark of Traditional systems is that they focus on regulating the lifestyle to maintain psychological & physiological wellbeing.