On Friday, December 11, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a nationwide protest against government’s notification which authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of Ayurveda to train and perform general surgical procedures.
According to reports, around 1,10,000 doctors have registered with Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), including 45,000 from IMA. These doctors are likely to participate in the protest today. Moreover, the MMC has directed all its members to write their graduation degree i.e. MBBS in bold letters on their letterheads, prescriptions, publicity material, identity cards, nameplates and boards henceforth.
This decision was taken to differentiate them from PG Ayurveda doctors. Ayurvedic Doctors too have similar abbreviations such as MD and MS and this move will help the two doctors differentiate themselves clearly.
As a part of the protest, the doctors have withdrawn all non-essential and non-COVID services on December 11 from 6 am to 6 pm. The IMA said that dispensaries, clinics and OPDs will remain shut. The association said emergency services including casualty, emergency room, critical care, ICUs, COVID care, emergency surgeries and labour room will continue to function.
On November 20, the Central Council of Indian Medicine issued a notification, which regulates Ayurveda education, stated Ayurveda graduates with postgraduate education will be trained in 58 surgeries from modern medicine.
Stating that the notification by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) to train and allow the legal practice of surgeries by Ayurveda practitioners and the formation of four committees by NITI Aayog for the integration of all systems of medicine will only lead to 'mixopathy', the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanded an immediate withdrawal of both.
Meanwhile, in order to express their disagreement to the notification, over 45,000 IMA members from 219 branches in Maharashtra staged demonstrations on December 8 against what they have termed as ‘mixopathy’. Over 5,000 MBBS students from 36 medical colleges and 10,000 postgraduate students and junior doctors participated in the demonstration in the state.
Also Read: IMA calls for a strike on Dec 11; Non-essential medical services to remain shut
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