Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Post- Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Online published on 1 June, 2012.
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) strategy of mainstreaming AYUSH health facilities, require evaluations for continual improvement.
To assess operationalisation and utilization of AYUSH clinics, to ascertain the level of patient satisfaction, to explore the perceptions of AYUSH practitioners regarding implementation of AYUSH scheme and to assess the factors influencing AYUSH scheme implementation.
Cross-sectional study design and mixed methodology was followed that included record review, and interviews with AYUSH service users and the service providers, of both Allopathic and AYUSH streams.
AYUSH system has been implemented successfully in Chandigarh and people are using these services. Females, prior users of allopathic medicine and suffering from chronic problems were the main users. Client satisfaction with service provision by AYUSH clinics was high. However, allopathic practitioners are not much enthusiastic about recognizing these systems as scientific therapies. More publicity about AYUSH in the region is required as the main goal of integration is not being fulfilled.
AYUSH, Ayurveda, NRHM, Health, Evaluation
