Interviewer instructions
Item 5: (if yes in item 4.1) From where did you usually get Indian system of medicines (code): For households answering "yes" to item 4.1, code for the source (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) from which the household gets medicines of the Indian system will be recorded here. For households answering "no" to item 4.1, a "-" will be entered against item 5.
Note: Hospitals/dispensaries run on charity basis by trusts/organisations/individuals will be covered under code 4.
(i) In case more than one source was used by the household, the source most frequently used will be regarded as the major source and should be recorded.
(ii) Sources: Medicines of the Indian system are often prepared at home (home-made) from plants or plant parts which are sold not specifically as medicines because they may be used as non-medicinal food as well. Examples include haldi (turmeric) - used as medicine for injury and fracture, and adrak (ginger) - used for cough, cold, throat problems, etc. The plants may be cultivated by a household, or obtained from other households which cultivate them, or obtained by free collection from forests, etc. In all these cases, code 1 (home-made: from home produce, free collection, etc.) will be given. The plants or plant parts (seeds, etc.) used to prepare the medicine may also be purchased by a household from vegetable markets, grocery shops, etc., and the medicine prepared in the home. In such cases (when the major or key ingredients are purchased), code 2 will be applicable. Apart from this, the medicines of the Indian system used by the household may also be obtained by the household in medicine form rather than in the natural (plant/ seed) form. Such medicines may come from four kinds of sources: Government hospital/ dispensary/PHCs/CHCs, Private hospital/ dispensary, Private practitioners (Doctors/ Vaidya/ Hakim/ Siddh Vaidya), and Local shops/ medical stores/ other sellers. The household will be given code 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in item 4 depending on the major source from which the medicines are obtained as explained above.
(iii) Private practitioners/ doctors: There are a number of private practitioners providing treatment/medicines under AYUSH. The practitioners working outside Government Hospitals/ Dispensaries/ PHCs/ CHCs are called private practitioners. For the purpose of this survey, private practitioner/ Vaidya/ Hakim/ Siddh Vaidya/ Homoeopath does not necessarily refer to those holding recognized degrees/diplomas. They may be having traditional knowledge through family members/ancestors.
(iv) Medical Stores/Local shops/Other sellers: Medical Stores here means any shop which sells drugs and medicines of any system of medicine viz. Allopathic, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic, Sidhha or Unani medicines. As regards local shops, it may be clarified that ISM medicines/ jadi bootiyan are also available in general merchant/ kiryana shops etc. in local markets. Other sellers refer to roadside vendors, etc.