Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute
Website: www.chagpori.org
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 5th July 2015.
On 5th July 2015 (Sunday) Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute organised a free Tibetan medical
camp at Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture, Darjeeling. The free medical camp was held to
mark the auspicious occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. Dr. Jampa Khedup
(Principal) and Dr. Ngawang Kunsel (Darjeeling clinic doctor) checked patients during the
medical camp. In total 115 patients attended the medical camp.
Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute is a non-profit charitable organization registered under the
West Bengal Societies Act XXVI of 1961. It was founded by the late Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche in
1992. The main aim and objective of Chagpori is to preserve and promote the science of
traditional Tibetan medicine (Sowa Rigpa); so that all people can avail the benefits of herbal
medicine.
With the amendment of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 by the Parliament in the
year 2010 SOWA RIGPA or Tibetan system of medicine is also recognised along with
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani system of medicine.
Chagpori has three pillars: the College, the Pharmacy and the Clinic.
College
Chagpori Tibetan Medical College is located at Takdah Cantonment. The College has been
training students since 1992, fifty doctors have graduated till now and there are currently fifteen
students enrolled. The students have to complete five years of theoretical studies after which they
have one year of internship. The nomenclature of this six years course is Bachelor in Tibetan
Medical System (BTMS) or Amchi Chikitsa Acharya.
At the moment, there are only 4 (four) Institutions in India who are conducting SOWA RIGPA
course of medicine. They are:
1. Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh, Ladakh (under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of
India).
2. Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang), Dharamsala, H.P. of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.
3. Central University for Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, U.P. (under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of
India).
4. Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute, Darjeeling (W.B).
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Most of the students are provided free education for the entire six years’ course including food
and lodge facilities. They come from different places of trans-Himalayan region such as Ladakh,
Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling district, Nepal, Bhutan and also from
the Tibetan community.
Pharmacy Department
Chagpori’s pharmacy produces the different herbal medicines which are used in the clinics.
Presently our pharmacy is located at Salugara.
Clinics
At the moment we have four clinics: one in Darjeeling, one in Kurseong and one near the college
site in Takdah. The fourth clinic is in Jorethang, South Sikkim. The amount that we charge is the
bare minimum, just enough to help us to cover the costs. These services are offered on a sliding
scale to patients depending on their means and are free of charge to the real needy. We plan to
open more clinics in the near future.
We also provide free medical camps regularly and conduct mobile camps in the regions.
Theory and Practice
Tibetan Healing Science is based on the concept that the human body is formed by
consciousness and the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space).These elements with
different characteristics in a balanced state help to maintain good health; while in an imbalanced
state with an increase, decrease or disturbance in their normal proportion cause diseases.
Diseases can be specifically diagnosed through visual examination of tongue and urine in
particular; examination by finger touch which includes pulse reading and interrogation which
involves examining the cause of disease, its signs and symptoms and evaluating the effects of
diet and lifestyle factors on disease.
After the disease is diagnosed the four treatment remedies (diet, lifestyle, medicine and external
therapies) which are also of the nature of the five elements, are applied stepwise. A disease free
body and mind helps to achieve longevity of life and this further helps to attain Dharma, wealth
and happiness.
Website: www.chagpori.org
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