Background & AIFC Portal Concept
- Cancer is challenging healthcare system since many centuries and various healthcare systems are combating the disease in their own way. However, since last few centuries conventional medical system has contributed a lot in understanding the disease biology, its clinical behavior and its diagnostic and treatment framework. Still, various challenges are being faced and horizons are being explored in this area. Apart from this, there is still large scope for betterment in every aspect of the disease control. Various areas are yet unaddressed during the current systems of research and clinical care.
- Ayurveda one of the most ancient traditional medicinal systems and being science of life (along with the diseases) possesses a comprehensive approach towards understanding and managing the disease. Ayurveda is dealing with cancer care in its own way and contributing in cancer patient management as standalone treatment and also as a complementary measure to conventional cancer care.
- In present Ayurveda clinical practices at institutional, public health and at private level, the disease management is being done is based on classical diagnostic and management principles of Ayurveda and is mainly having customized approach as mentioned in Ayurveda.
- RRAP –Central Ayurveda Research Institute, a peripheral institute of CCRAS, Ministry of Ayush- functional since 1986, is mandated to conduct research and clinical services in Cancer and other lifestyle disease since 2014. Presently, cancer management is being done at OPD and IPD level with free consultation, and medicines and along with Panchakarma services and physiotherapy treatment as required.
- The institute is offering consultations and management with classical Ayurveda as a standalone measure or as a complementary treatment to ongoing / completed conventional cancer care. This clinical data is systematically maintained at the institute in the form of source documents and also in the form of specially designed case record form. However, was observed during the process that, there is vast variety in disease presentations, varied patient expectations and objectives of treatment from Ayurveda about their cancer care, heterogeneity of treatment being done at different conventional cancer care centers, heterogeneity in previously taken Ayurveda (and other TM treatments).
- Parallel to clinical services and research, a literary research and review work detailing about the established published evidences about clinical management of cancer and related conditions with Ayurveda inventions was also carried out at RRAP- CARI and was published in 2017.
- Also, an IMR project collecting and managing data of patients being managed by eminent Ayurveda physicians in the different parts of the country with promising results was initiated at CARI, Mumbai in 2019. It is seen from the data analyzed that although classical Ayurveda science is the same, the approach and application of physicians was specific in cancer management.
- Hence, a need was felt to systematically revive, document, validate and analyze data about cancer management from practitioners and Ayurveda institutions. Accordingly, an IMR project titled “Ayurveda Interventions for Cancer: Systematic review, Meta-Analysis and Revival, Documentation, Validation and Analysis of data from practitioners, institutes” was conducted at RRAP-Central Ayurveda Research Institute from 2019
- Parallel to this, a case record format was specially designed at RRAP CARI to collect data of cancer patients attending the institute for cancer management through Ayurveda. An electronic version of the format is also designed with the help of NIIMH, Hyderabad. The document was made available in the public domain through a publication . Presently, the data of the institute is being maintained in this format, both in hard copies and also in electronic format.
- Considering the amount of data being generated in Ayurveda in cancer care, there is a need felt to streamline it on a single platform in a uniform manner. Hence, the concept of designing a portal that fulfills this need is further developed and discussed with the higher authorities of CCRAS and the Ministry of Ayush. During the visit of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, to RRAP-CARI on June 30, 2022, the AIFC portal was officially launched.
Accordingly, an IMR project is proposed for the design and implementation of the AIFC Portal.
Objectives of AIFC Portal
1.To generate a platform for uniform data collection, systematic documentation of clinical work and clinical research work being done in Cancer management through Ayurveda
2.To collect, document and systematically, uniformly present Ayurveda Interventions used clinically for cancer of various types , at various stages and with various treatment objectives.3.To promote usage of Electronic Health Records [E.H.R] across Ayurveda /AYUSH Domain for clinical data about cancer prevention and management through Ayurveda /AYUSH systems.
4.Updating, implementation, maintenance and wider dissemination of “Ayurveda Interventions for Cancer Portal (AIFC-Portal)” which is serving the purpose of systematic documentation, and validation of various cancer interventions based on Ayurveda from various strata viz., Individual doctors, Institutions and cancer survivors.
5.To serve the purpose of the common dashboard for the active interaction among professionals working in the domain of “Integrative oncology” involving western medicine approaches and Ayurvedic interventions for mitigating various types of cancer.