About Institution

1.1 Historical Background of the Institute

Ayurveda health care system is the oldest and well-established indigenous health care practices in Nepal. It has become a tradition of Nepalese society that we first prefer home remedies for any kinds of ailments. Most of these home remedies are based on the principles, procedures, and modes of Ayurveda system of medicine. Singh durbar Vaidya Khana Vikasa Samittee, a government undertaken Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Company produces the Ayurvedic drugs for public as well as government supply. It is the oldest pharmaceutical company in Nepal and South Asia, which was established 380 years ago during the Malla dynasty, is a proof that Ayurveda is first institutionalized system of medicine for Nepal. The Vaidyakhana has been now made autonomous and functioning well. History of medical education in Nepal also confirms that Ayurveda is the first ever-established medical education in Nepal.

The history shows that the Rana Prime Minister, Chandra Shamsher Rana established Nepal Rajakiya Ayurveda Vidyalaya in 1975 B.S. (1918 A.D.) under Ministry of Education, as he had greatly been impressed by Ayurveda medicine. The Ayurveda Vidyalaya (Campus of Ayurveda) had launched six years long course, which was divided into three levels. The first level was Vaidhya Binod, the second was Vaidhya Bhushan and third was Vaidhya Ratna. Later in 2012 B.C. (1955 A.D.) with some revision, course and title had been changed as Ayurveda Madhyama, Ayurveda Shastri and Acharya; and the course was conducted under Ministry of Health.

This was put into end after Proficiency Certificate Level Course in Ayurveda; and was started in Ayurveda Hospital Nardevi premises in 2029 B.S. (1972 A.D.) following the new education policy under Institute of Medicine, TU. Ayurveda Campus was established in 1972 A.D. with PCL program (intermediate level) only. Persons who deserved the certificate course in both Ayurveda and Allopathic system of medicine named as Chikitsya Sastra Bisharad - Ayurveda evum Samanya Chikitsa (Certificate level in medical Science-Traditional and General Medicine). They were eligible to join both Ayurveda Aushadhalaya (Ayurveda Dispensary) as a Kabiraj (Ayurveda Health Assistant) or Health Assistant in Health Post- community level health unit of the Allopathic health system as they had studied allopathic medicine. Immediate after the restoration of Democracy, TU encouraged to phase out the certificate programme from the University. Considering this, PCL was phased out in 2049 B.S. (1992 A.D.)

Ayurveda Campus had started Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) Programme from 2044 B.S. (1987 A.D.) with annual intake of 15 students. Only three batches of BAMS were produced. Discontinuity of the programme had several reasons but mostly they were related to inadequate physical infrastructures, scarce of teaching faculties and the recognition of the course. It was a great setback for Ayurveda sector. Later, name of degree had been changed as Bachelor of Ayurveda and Modern Medicine and Surgery (BAMMS) and altogether 36 doctors with BAMMS degree had been produced. They all are treated as Integrated Medical Officer and almost all of them are working in Allopathic health system. At the same time 2044 B.S. (1987 A.D.), Ayurveda Campus had started to produce Auxiliary Ayurveda Health Workers (AAHW) commonly known as Baidhya. There were 40 students enrolled per year and it was conducted for 18 months. Out of 170 enrolled, 106 students deserved the AAHW degree. The programme was conducted in financial and technical support from WHO and phased out in 2047 B.S. (1990 A.D.) saying that the quota was fulfilled.

In 2053 B.S. (1996 A.D.), Institute of Medicine decided to re-launch BAMS programme in Ayurveda Campus with new and revised course. Until then, BAMS programme is running with annual intake of 15 students initially; and it gradually has been increased to 30 seats. Among them, 16 seats for scholarship, 12 for paying, 1 for Staff Quota and 1 is for foreign students (paying). Students who have passed 10+2 in biosciences securing 50 percent marks, or Ayurveda Health Assistant (Kabiraj), they are eligible for entrance examination taken by IOM. From the year 2076 B.S., the intake capacity has been increased to 40 seats and the entrance examination is conducted by Medical Education Commission (MEC). Among them, 30 seats for scholarship, 8 for paying, 1 for Staff Quota and 1 is for foreign students (paying).

Ayurveda Campus from the fiscal year 2068/69 B.S. (2012 A.D.) has also started Post Graduate Programme in Kaya Chikitsa (Internal Medicine) with the capacity of annual intake of two. Table 2 shows human resources production of Ayurveda Campus so far. It clearly shows that the Campus had produced different category of Ayurveda human resources. Of them, majority were certificate level human resources. The Campus now has undergraduate programme (BAMS) and postgraduate programme (MD in Kayachikitsa) only.

Salient Features

1. Prime location of Campus which can be easily accessed.
2. Sound and peaceful learning environment.
3. Its own teaching hospital with 50 bed Indoor capacity is running currently.
4. Sufficient Land area within university premises.
5. The only higher education center for post graduate education of Ayurveda in Nepal.
6. Skill based teaching-learning methods.
7. In course seminars, National and international conferences and symposium and community exposures are organized periodically.
8. Laboratories under development in many departments.
9. Professional, highly dedicated research and result oriented faculties with strong background carrying extensive experience and high academic achievements.
10. Technology friendly in the teaching learning process.

1.2  Vision, Mission, Goals Objective (VMGO)

Ayurveda Campus has envisioned the holistic development of Ayurveda education, services and research. Ayurveda, as a science of welfare of life, time tested system of medicine that is deep rooted in our society and has become a tradition of remedies, is well established eastern system of medicine that heals almost all the health problems. Ayurveda philosophy of health promotion is now widely popular around the globe specially to prevent and control non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, Cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Ayurveda Campus under IOM, TU is only a place to produce the duly qualified Ayurveda Human Resources to cater the services. Due to limited resources, Ayurveda Campus has not been able to update and expand the programmes as expected. Therefore, to expedite the growth of Ayurveda Campus as an independent Institute of Ayurveda, this plan has been prepared. Establishment of Institute of Ayurveda may take more than five years and this plan directs to establish the institute. The plan can be changed periodically considering its progress towards its mission and vision.

Vision

To become a centre of excellence in Ayurveda education, research and provide a state of art Ayurveda health services to the people of Nepal and abroad.

Mission

Produce globally competent professional minds with human values and ethics to serve the society by taking part in health service, scientific innovation, research, academic and entrepreneurship activities.

Goal

To produce highly knowledgeable, skillful, competent and responsible human resources in Ayurveda health care by providing sound, scientific, innovative and novel environment for teaching learning, research and hospital services.

Objectives

After presenting above vision, mission and goal the set of objectives of Ayurveda Campus and Teaching Hospital are as follows:

1. Develop the new infrastructures and upgrade in existing infrastructure to meet the current and future need to run academic programmes and hospital services.
2. To reform in academic activities, teaching learning and evaluation system of Campus to establish the sound teaching learning environment to achieve academic excellence.
3. To expand and strengthen Ayurveda Teaching Hospital services to develop as tertiary care Ayurveda Hospital and referral center.
4. To strengthen the culture of research and publication in Campus among faculties and students.
5. To initiate administrative and financial reform in Campus to carry out all administrative and financial activities in effective, efficient, systemic and timely manner.

Conclusion

Ayurveda Campus is the only center for higher Ayurveda education in Nepal. It resulted from the merging of Government of Nepal’s Ayurved Vidyalaya and Chikitsalaya with the Institute of Medicine in 1972 AD. History reveals that Rajakiya Ayurveda Vidhyalaya was the first to start technical education in the country in 1993 BS. Though striving for infrastructure since more than two decades. Bachelor and Certificate admissions were interrupted in 1991 and 1993 and was restarted in 1996.

It admits 40 students every year into its 5.5 years course with 3 professional courses of 18 months each followed by an internship of 1 year. M.D. (Kayachikitsa) program is also being run in the Ayurveda Campus.

Our Mission is to become an outstanding “Center of Excellence” dedicated to Ayurveda by setting high standards in education, research and health services for the benefit of humanity. We do unprecedented work in the field of Ayurveda education, by finding the right balance between ancient and modern systems and deliver to the nation and the world, highly knowledgeable and skilled Ayurveda practitioners for the benefit of humanity.