The IMA is protesting against the Union government’s decision to allow Ayurveda students to study general surgery.
Several private hospitals in Bangalore kept their outpatient departments (OPD) operational on Friday following the Indian Medical Association (IMA) calling for a nationwide strike. The IMA had called for the closure of OPDs in private hospitals that practice allopathy after the Union government’s decision to allow Ayurvedic students to obtain training in general surgery.
On November 20 this year, the Central Council of Indian Medicine, which regulates Ayurveda education, issued a notification that Ayurvedic graduates with postgraduate degrees can now receive training in 58 surgical procedures of modern medicine. Doctors who practice allopathy have called a strike claiming that such an outcome would be a danger to public health.
Major private hospitals, including Apollo Hospital (Jayanagar), Fortis Hospital, and Motherhood Hospitals, have kept their outpatient departments open. However, Jain Hospital had closed its OPD for the day, stating that the doctors supported the IMA strike. Private and government COVID-19 hospitals continued to operate their OPDs, as they are required to do so under the Epidemic Law.
“We have more patients coming in today and our OPD is open. We have too many appointments and patients that cannot be turned away, ”said a doctor at St John’s Hospital, designated a COVID-19 hospital.
Speaking to TNM, Dr. SM Prasad, IMA Karnataka chapter secretary, said that the main reason for the strike is to “raise awareness among the people” about the Union government’s decision to allow Ayurveda students to work. in general surgeon positions.
Ayurveda rejects antibiotics. Students in the course do not learn anything about anesthesia or microbiology. You cannot put turmeric and neem leaves on surgical wounds. Without the proper knowledge MBBS and MD physicians gain, how can they be allowed to become general surgeons? This will lead to an increase in charlatans and lead to a community health crisis, ”said Dr. SM Prasad.
He further stated that the switch to general surgery would “inadvertently” lead to more complications in patients. “When they don’t have the knowledge about modern medicine and they are allowed to operate, it will increase the risks in the patients they operate on. Why should we legalize something that is harmful to public health? We are not against Ayurveda. Let them practice, but they cannot be equipped to delve into modern medicine and the two spheres are different. We are not against Ayurveda, only the cross with allopathy ”, he added.
Dr. Prasad said that the IMA would have a list of hospitals, which supported the strike only at the end of the day. “We will take this to the government to show the support we have for our cause,” he added.
