Ayurveda is the oldest form of medicine that dates back to 5000 years ago in India. Ayurveda originated in India by 2 great saint doctors Charaka & Sushrutha. The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) graduates are experts in Ayurvedic medicine. Many countries abroad are looking towards the Indian traditional medicine “Ayurveda” for treatment and development of drugs for many life-threatening ailments that the people are suffering today.  There are some areas where the BAMS graduates can find excellent career opportunities in today’s era.

Some of the fields where BAMS doctors can shine are

Ayurvedic Clinical Practice

• The BAMS students entering ayurvedic practice are required to study in detail about the ayurvedic samhitas. 
• The BAMS students are expected to be well aware about modern medical science and interpretation of modern diagnostic tests. 
• In India there are various traditions of Ayurvedic practice like Panchbhautik Chikitsa, Nadi Pariksha, Datu Chikitsa etc. 
• The students will be learning such traditions and follow them in their practice.

Academics in Ayurveda 

• The BAMS students who are interested in teaching can join as assistant professors after completing their MD Ayurveda courses. 
• The BAMS students after completion of their MD Ayurveda can join government or private colleges as lecturers. 
• There is a large space for BAMS students in the private sector, especially in the teaching profession. 
• The students initially join as assistant professors and after they gain some expertise, they can become head of departments of ayurvedic colleges. 
• The BAMS doctors are even appointed as Deans, Chairman and Vice President for Ayurvedic Colleges.

Ayurvedic Research

• BAMS students, if interested in research, can join Ph.D programmes after their masters. 
• There are extensive course modules for ayurvedic research and the scope of study is also vast for Ayurveda. 
• After the completion of Ph.D courses the students are hired in various drug manufacturing companies as Clinical Research Associate.
• In the field of Ayurveda, the Clinical Research Associates are responsible to conduct research on the new drugs using the medicinal herbs and plants. 
• The clinical research associates are responsible to develop and write trial protocols for newly developed drugs using ayurvedic plants. 
• As a Clinical Research Associate, one is responsible to design data collection forms known as care report forms. 
• Clinical Research Associates are required to coordinate with the ethics committee that gives permission to drug trials. 
• The Clinical Research Associates are also responsible to monitor the trials and oversee the research and marketing of new drugs developed by the organisation.
• Although the fact is the drug trials for Ayurvedic is time consuming as the results cannot be obtained early. 
• Unlike the allopathic drug trails, the ayurvedic drug trials take weeks and months to get the results. But the side effects from the ayurvedic drug is Nil, when compared to allopathic medicines. 
• So, it requires a lot of patience to be a Clinical Research Associate, especially in the Ayurvedic field.

Management and Administration

• The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) students have an opportunity to head the ayurvedic educational institutions after the completion of their master’s. 
• As they gain experience in their field, they are chosen to head the ayurvedic clinic or an hospital and sometimes ayurvedic health and wellness centres. 
• They can also work in different areas like sports medicine, disaster management, industrial management, preventive and promotive healthcare etc.
• The BAMS students after their completion of MD Ayurveda, can be appointed as head of departments of various ayurvedic departments in ayurvedic colleges. 
• Sometimes they are also appointed as Deans, Chairman and Vice presidents for ayurvedic colleges and hospitals.

Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturing

• The last decade has seen a boom in ayurvedic drug manufacturing. The production of ayurvedic medicines is a booming business today. 
• Many top drug manufacturing companies are investing huge amounts to manufacture ayurvedic based medicines. 
• Apart from manufacturing, other allied aspects like cultivation of medicinal plants, trading raw materials in the form of powder, extracts, oils etc are also in great demand.
• Not only medicines but also ayurvedic cosmetics and food products have equally big markets. 
• The demand for ayurvedic based products is gaining importance day by day for the benefits they carry. 
• The drug manufacturing industries are hiring BAMS graduates in their manufacturing units for good salary packages. 
• The BAMS students are considered as skilled professionals who have the knowledge and methodologies about ayurvedic medicines and medicinal herbs.

In Conclusion

The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) doctors gained a lot of importance in the last decade. Many patients go for ayurvedic treatments for their health conditions instead of allopathic medicines. This has increased the demand for ayurvedic doctors in this field. Many patients seek to get treatments in various ayurvedic spas and ayurvedic healthcare centres. This has increased the number of vacancies in these institutes.