IMA up in arms against allowing surgery by Ayurveda docs

Nagpur: The age-old clash between doctors trained in modern medicine and those who learnt traditional streams like Ayurveda just got renewed after the gazette notification published by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) on November 20.
CCIM notified that 58 surgical procedures covering general surgery, urology, surgical gastroenterology, ENT, ophthalmology and dental medicine can be performed by the Ayurveda post-graduates in ‘Shalyathanthra’ and ‘Shalakyathanthra’ subjects too.
Indian Medical Association (IMA), the apex body of doctors of modern medicine, is now up in arms against the CCIM and wants this notification withdrawn.
“Untrained persons practising sophisticated surgical procedures that require years of training in modern medicine are a grave threat to public health,” said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, president of IMA Maharashtra.
“This move is promoting mixopathy and we oppose this. In fact, all four committees of National Medical Commission planning to promote mixopathy should be dissolved immediately,” he added.
Not only the practising doctors of modern medicine, but resident doctors and budding doctors (MBBS students) will also oppose this move. IMA has planned systematic protest from December 4. It will start with MBBS students and by December 11, the practising doctors will observe a day’s strike.
All non-essential non-Covid services will be withdrawn between 6am and 6pm on December 11. Finally doctors will file petitions in courts. IMA Maharashtra members appear more aggressive on the issue as the CCIM Chairman Dr Jayant Deopujari hails from Nagpur. Recently, he said in an interview with TOI that 95% of ICUs in India are managed by AYUSH Doctors. According to IMA, this statement is ‘provocative’.
“It’s totally baseless and not factual statement,” reads IMA’s counter-statement issued on December 2. “They (CCIM) should explain with proof that each of procedures mentioned in CCIM notification are described in the ancient Ayurvedic surgery and are equivalent to the modern medical surgical nomenclature,” the statement concludes.
What IMA will do?
Medical Students: Will demonstrate peacefully in first week of December
Junior doctors: IMA’s wing of PG Students and MARD will begin agitation from December 8
IMA members: Group of 20 doctors, using face masks, white coats and stethoscope around their neck will protest at a public place in every city from December 8 onwards
Senior doctors: Closure of medical services throughout Maharashtra and pan-India on December 11
Legal wing: IMA National will file a petition in the Supreme Court, IMA State branches in their respective high courts