Challenges Faced by the Traditional Medical Practitioners from Siddha System towards Transition to Information Technology-based Approaches at Chennai, India

Abstract

Traditional System of Medicine has its strong roots in human life since eons. The wellbeing and health care needs of the Human kind has been taken care consistently by this profound historical medical system. One such system of medicine which has its origin from Southern part of India is Siddha System of Medicine. Siddha framework is a treasure-house of mystery science, epitomizing the consequences of the ardent pursuit thereof by the old Siddhars. The registered and traditional Siddha Doctors practice these ancient medical services - based on the treasured Palm scripts of Siddhars. A major part of these manuscripts are more defenseless than the recorded conventional information. In this manner, the current review was planned to report and quantitatively dissect the neighborhood information on the customary Siddha practitioners in Chennai. This article highlights the challenges encountered by the Siddha practitioners towards the transition to an information technology-based approach in the Siddha system of medicine at Chennai. In this study, a questionnaire was provided to 56 Siddha practitioners in Chennai and the data were evaluated based on a questionnaire pertaining to utilisation of big data repository, use of electronic reporting, personalized patient care management, evidence-based decision supporting system using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and data on preventive diseases. The study observed that the practitioners felt a strong need for change to IT-based systems for recording the personalized patient care management and utilising the databases for reporting the various aspects observed.