Ayurveda doctors allowed to do surgery, IMA condemns move

New Delhi : In one of the controversial move, the Central government has allowed the Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries like ENT, ophthalmology, and dental procedures.

This move comes after the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), which regulates the medical study and practice of Ayurveda, amended the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2016, to allow the PG students of Ayurveda to practice general surgery.

According to the notification released, "The Central Council of Indian Medicine, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2016."

It has been said that the students will be given training in 'shalya' (general surgery) and 'shalakya' (diseases of ear, nose, throat, eye, head, orthodentistry) specialisations, with this they will be able to conduct surgeries with perfection.

Meanwhile, the move has been strongly condemned by the Indian Medical Association (IMA); they warned of protest against the decision.

“We unequivocally condemn the uncivil ways of the Central Council of Indian Medicine to arrogate itself to vivisect modern medicine and empower its practitioners with undeserving areas of practice. The said council has come out with a gazette notification of a list of surgical procedures which can be performed by its practitioners. They have no right to the technical terms, techniques and procedures of modern medicine. IMA draws the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ which they can cross at their peril,” the IMA said.