Withdraw notification, Indian Medical Association appeals to Centre

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA-AP) in solidarity with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded the withdrawal of Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) notifications which allows post-graduate Ayurveda students to study and practice Allopathic surgical procedures.

The demand also includes withdrawal of the four committees of NITTI Aayog mixing all systems of medicines and the National Education Policy (NEP), which propose to phase out all institutions offering single streams and that all universities and colleges must aim to become multidisciplinary by 2040.

Opposing the government notification in the field of health and medical education, IMA-AP said that the mixing of streams of medicines in surgery is not only hazardous to the health of the public but may be 'fatal'.

Addressing the media person at Heema hospital recenlty, IMA-AP president Dr. Lobsang Tsetim said that modern medicines and Ayurveda are totally different subjects. The mixing of both will be detrimental to the health sector," Dr. Lobsang said, questioning the central government on who will be responsible if any wrong goes during surgery by an Ayurveda graduate.

Dr. Lobsang said the association has no issue with the practicing of medicine by Ayurveda students but allowing surgery to them will certainly be hazardous and fatal to the patients in the long run.

Therefore, looking into the future complications, IMA-AP unit has also requested the state government to oppose and not implement the CCIM notification in the state. It also informed that the association will write to the state health department demanding withdrawal of CCIM notification.

Dr. Lobsang also informed that the entire OPD services will remain closed on December 11 as the IMA has called for nationwide bandh. He said, except for the COVID-19, emergency surgeries, casualty and labour room services the rest medical services will remain closed on the day.

However, Dr. Lobsang said that the IMA-AP will not go for the 'Bandh call' on the day but wear 'black badges' in support with the central IMA. He said the decision was made as the state (Arunachal Pradesh) has limited number of doctors and the total bandh call will affect the health care delivery system.

Meanwhile, IMA-AP general secretary Dr. Jigo Ori said that the association is not in a state to challenge the superiority of 'Allopathy and Ayurveda'. But the overnight mixing of both streams will undermine the originality of each stream as well as create future implications.

"We are not against the Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) doctors but there will be health complications during surgery executed by an Ayurveda doctor who just needs 2 years to complete post graduation and is entitled for any surgery," Dr. Ori said.

He said that doctors who study Allopathy and medical science need a decade of years to master in surgery. How can the CCIM allow a post-graduate Ayurveda student to study for 2 years and then practice Allopathic surgical procedures, Dr. Ori questioned.

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