The Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has decided to take stringent action against its registered members who associate with physicians or hospitals of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) or support them with prescriptions for joint treatment.

The first victim for the punitive action of the Association will be Dr C N Deivanayagam, the former HoD of the Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Chennai, according to Dr TM Revi Shankar, secretary of IMA TN branch. According to Dr Revi, Dr Deivanayagam has supported the Siddha method of treatment in an interview with a local TV channel last week.

"We will take action against the doctor and waiting for concrete evidence. It is our agenda. So we will initiate action", he told Pharmabiz.

Later, in an email sent to Pharmabiz, Dr Revi Shankar said, "Dr Deivanayagam has given an interview to the Makkal TV talking on the usefulness of Siddha treatment for HIV patients. If we get his prescription with Siddha we will give a complaint to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council".

Now the crucial decision of the IMA has come in the wake of unearthing of fake practices by certain unqualified quacks, prescribing both allopathic and ISM medicines in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu. The IMA has earlier filed a case with the Madras High Court that a lot of quacks are running clinics and prescribing allopathic medicines in various parts of Chennai and in villages. Based on the complaint the Court has asked the state police to conduct an inquiry into the matter and the police started their crack down on the quacks last week.

According to sources, so far the police have arrested more than 200 quacks and some ISM doctors who were prescribing allopathic medicines. Out of the quacks, majority of them claimed that they were traditional healers for years.

While speaking to Pharmabiz, the IMA secretary said recently more than 18 allopathic doctors' prescriptions were found along with the prescriptions of Siddha doctors. Following this the Tamil Nadu Medical Council has complained about them to the Medical Council of India. Since they tendered their apology, the council has withdrawn from initiating any further action, he said.

Meanwhile, the Friends of Siddha Medicine, an organization of Siddha doctors of Tamil Nadu, has come down heavily on the steps taken by the IMA against qualified Siddha doctors and said they don't want any kind of support from the IMA people for their existence. While admitting that it is wrong if a Siddha doctor practices allopathic system, Dr J Joseph Thas, the president of the organization said action should be initiated against those allopathic doctors who are practising Indian system of treatment. "Siddha is a specialized treatment and the doctors of that system must stick to that method itself. How can a Siddha doctor know the side effects of allopathic medicines? Likewise the allopathic doctors should prescribe their own medicines, don't mix both", he said.

Dr Thirunarayanan, the director of the Centre for Traditional Medicines & Research, Chennai, has commented that each category of doctors should follow each one's systems. Both are different in methods and applications. But he said the arrest of Siddha doctors by police for the reason of change of prescriptions may harm the dignity of the age old Indian system. He wanted the doctors of Siddha medicines to stick on their own systems. He said Dr Deivanayagam's alleged statement in the local TV channel that he would prescribe both Siddha and allopathic medicines to HIV patients, cannot be taken for granted.

When contacted Dr K Prakasam, the president of IMA Tamil Nadu, he said "We respect Siddha medicines as it can cure many diseases, but the practitioners should stick to their own systems only. The ISM doctors are not our enemy or we don't consider them as opponents".

Regarding engagement of Siddha doctors for night duty in private allopathic hospitals by certain managements, Dr Revi Shankar said if the Siddha doctors are crossing their specialties, it means that they do not have faith in their systems or they don't trust the efficacy of their medicines. He said if such cases are found in future, complaints will be given against the hospitals also.

According to sources, the Siddha doctors and graduates of Siddha are planning a state wide strike on Monday protesting against the arrest of Siddha doctors.