Karnataka State Registered Pharmacist’s Association has cautioned the government on the efforts by certain state governments to recognise the medical professionals armed with a degree in Indian System of Medicine and qualified as Ayush doctors being permitted to practice and prescribe allopathic drugs.
The Association has quoted the File No: V. 110225/65/2012-MFP 1 dated May 29, 2013 along with the File No: D.17022/9/2011-RD from the Department of Ayush to indicate that efforts were made in the past to register Ayush doctors in State Medical Council records.
These moves in the past by several associations only highlights assertiveness to promote integrative medicine practices to combine ISM with allopathy without permission. Further, it not only undermines the modern medical profession which is detrimental to the ISM practitioners also. It is like sailing in two boats with one leg in each, Ashokswamy Heroor, president: Karnataka State Registered Pharmacist’s Association and practicing advocate stated in its communication to the Union government with a separate letter to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
“The officials engaged in such crafty moves are shielding themselves under the Supreme Court orders of the case related to Dr. Muktiyar versus the Punjab government decision . Though SC has not ordered the government to make provisions to enable ISM doctors to practice allopathy system of medicine, the middlemen and touts have commenced the same deceitfully. The SC’s recent order, bans cross practice by doctors, stated Heroor adding that he would not rule out the possibility of support from multinational drug companies to encourage such practices in a bid to increase the generic drug sales in the country.
The government should ensure that such practices are not encouraged and violators need to be taken to task. It is a serious issue which would impact health of patients resulting from wrong medication and adverse drug reactions. No amount of training and capacity building for a BAMS doctor would match an MBBS professional, noted Heroor.
Medical profession is the seen to be a neglected profession going by the issues of seeking a medical seat admission and thereafter during his practice, he is targeted by politicians, bureaucrats and enforcement officers. Further, there is also a profusion of quacks on the prowl who are administering treatment and medicines. It is high time government takes charge to control the situation and ensure that the Ayush doctors should never be allowed to practice allopathy, said Heroor.