Integrating Sowa Rigpa into the Public Healthcare system in Ladakh

Abstract

This study attempts to examine Sowa Rigpa, a traditional medicinal system practised in the Himalayan regions of India and its integration in the public healthcare system. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with the practitioners, educators and administrators of Sowa Rigpa Institutes of Ladakh, the study brings to the fore the transition of Sowa Rigpa from a traditional medicinal system to a recognised and institutionalised healthcare system post its recognition in 2010 by the Government of India. This study also highlights how the stakeholders, including the Amchis and the administrators, have navigated the changes and challenges, and their social, cultural and political implications. Findings indicate the multifaceted nature of integration, where Sowa Rigpa and its institutionalisation can be seen as not just a mere inclusion in the mainstream healthcare system, but a process that has reinforced the legitimacy of its practitioners and their holistic approach to healthcare.