IMA on the way to war after Modi government allows Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries

The recent move by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) to allow holders of postgraduate degrees in Indian medicine such as Ayurveda to perform a variety of surgical procedures has been condemned by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The association found this movement a ‘corrupting’ modern medicine and a ‘secret poaching’ of other disciplines.

The association through a press release has asked members of Modern Medicine to refrain from teaching their disciples to students from other systems. The statement signed by Dr. Rajan Sharma, IMA National President, says it will take all measures to resist the mix of systems. Asking Indian medicine to grow in its own strength and purity, IMA said it has no objection if the council develops its own dedicated disciplines without mixing the surgical disciplines of modern medicine.

“IMA draws the Lakshman Rekha that they can cross at their own risk. The Council has a dubious reputation for prescribing modern medical textbooks to its students. IMA urges the Council to develop its own surgical disciplines from its own ancient textbooks and not to claim the surgical disciples of Modern Medicine as its own, “said the IMA. Furthermore, it demanded that the government not place any doctor in modern medicine in Indian medical schools.

#IMA unequivocally condemns the impolite ways of the Central Council of Indian Medicine to arrogate itself to vivisect Modern Medicine and empower its practitioners with undeserved areas of practice.@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan pic.twitter.com/NvQhEpkKNk

– Indian Medical Association (@IMAIndiaOrg) November 21, 2020

Notification from the CCIM in their newsletter allowed Ayurvedic GPs to receive formal training in procedures such as orthopedics, general surgery, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and dental procedures. The Regulations of the Central Council of Medicine of India (PG Ayurveda Education), 2016, were recently amended to allow PG Ayurveda students to train in two streams of surgery and obtain MS (Ayurveda) shalakya tantra (disease of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and orthodontics) and MS (Ayurveda) shalya tantra general surgery.