IMA concern on Government green signal for Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries.
The Central Council of Indian Medicine(CCIM) that is a statutory body under AYUSH Ministry is also the regulatory body for the study and practice of Ayurveda in India, it has notified after the Central Government’s approval that the practitioners of Ayurveda ( The postgraduate Ayurveda doctors) can now perform surgeries related to ENT, dental and ophthalmology. They can also go ahead with the procedures related to removal of appendix and gallbladder, dental root canal and excision of tumors only after obtaining appropriate training.
According to the notification, students pursuing MS in Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra (general surgeries) shall be trained in around 39 general surgical procedures as listed while, the postgraduates pursuing MS in Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra will be trained in 19 other procedures (includes eye, ear, nose, throat, head and ori- dentistry) after which the degree holders can independently perform the procedures.
The Ayurveda practitioners will also receive training in surgical procedures like excision of simple cyst, ear lobe repair, removal of metallic and non- metallic foriegn bodies from non- vital organs and cataract operations etc.
But, According to the statement of Dr. Rajan Sharma president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) They have expressed their disagreement with the government and KIM’s decision to authorise Ayurveda Doctors to legally perform surgical procedures after training. IMA persuaded the CCIM to develop its surgical disciplines from sources like ancient texts in order to avoid claiming modern medicine’s surgical disciplines of its own. IMA condemned the Central Government’s decision saying it’s move would corrupt the entire health system of the country.
However, the government decided to make this major move as there was a severe need of specialist surgeons in the rural areas of many states. Vaidya Jayant Devpujari who is the chairman of board of governors, CCIM gave a clarification on surgical procedures as they are being performed for more than 20 years in Ayurveda Institutes. Therefore it is an apt and right decision made by government
