Call to include meditation in education, medical curricula

The country’s renowned physicians have welcomed the government’s initiative to include meditation in the medical treatment as an alternative treatment and opined that its long-term reflection is likely to reduce health expenditure.

They also called upon the authorities concerned to include meditation in both education and medical curriculums to help the people lead a healthy life.

The physicians were sharing their views during a scientific seminar on ‘inclusion of meditation as alternative treatment: our responsibility’’ organised by Quantum Foundation at IDEB Bhaban on Friday.

National Professor Dr Shahla Khatun attended the seminar as the chief guest while former Dean of the Faculty of Basic Science and Paraclinical Science of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Dr M Iqbal Arslan and founder Chairman of Palliative Care Department at BSMMU Professor Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed as the special guests.

Chaired by renowned mental health specialist and writer Anwara Syed Haq, the seminar was also attended by around 400 physicians of public and private hospitals.

Quantum Heart Club Coordinator Dr Muniruzzaman presented the keynote paper at the seminar. The guests also unveiled a magazine titled ‘Meditation in physicians, prescription’.

Dr Shahla Khatun said a gradual improvement in medical science finds the possibility of gene regulation and expressed her view that meditation can help in this regard.

Dr M Iqbal Arslan highlighted the impact of meditation on the health economy and said the government’s significant budget spending on health could be reduced through practicing meditation.

In this connection, the former dean said inclusion of meditation in social science of education curriculum can help the young generation to lead a healthy life from early stage.

The speakers also considered the Health Directorate›s decision to include meditation part of health service a timely and epoch-making one.

They said meditation is now recognised as a part of health service worldwide because of its proven role in healing, preventing and relieving diseases, including stress, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure.

According to scientists, meditation is an exercise of brain as it works to reorganise, active, lively the brain just like jogging does in increasing muscle strength and swimming in the biceps strength.

The special guests said that yoga-meditation plays an effective role in becoming fit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took meditation into account as alternative treatment to deal with problems like hypertension, depression, stress, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart and stroke related complications in last December.