MEDICAL PLURALISM IN BRITISH PUNJAB: NECESSITY OF COEXISTENCE, CONVERGENCE IN DIVERSE SOCIO-CULTURAL FABRIC

Shabana  Yasin; Sumaira Noreen

doi:10.46662/jass.v11i1.451

Shabana Yasin PhD Student, History Department, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore
Sumaira Noreen Associate Professor, History Department, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46662/jass.v11i1.451

Keywords: Medical Pluralism, Co-Existence, Convergence, British Punjab, Indigenous Medicine

Abstract

This research paper explores the coexistence and convergence of plural healthcare practices in British Punjab with a prime focus on the need for a diverse social order to accommodate multiple healthcare setups. The interdisciplinary conceptual framework of this research rests on the debate around the dynamics of medical pluralism and its implications for healthcare delivery, while combining medical anthropology, and historical sociology. The objective is to explore how different medical systems, both indigenous and contemporary, influence and interact with each other, hence serving as the driving forces towards their coexistence and sometimes convergence of these systems. The findings reveal a dynamic landscape of medical pluralism in the then British Punjab, with traditional Ayurvedic, Unani, and homoeopathic practices showcasing interactions between traditional and Western medical practices. Results support the fact that recognizing and integrating multiple medical traditions and practices is crucial for ensuring accessible and effective healthcare services for the population.