Mahiti Hakku Jagruiti Vedike (MHJV) has objected to the practice of prescribing allopathy medicines by the ayurveda doctors in Karnataka. It has now urged the State government to initiate legal action against the cross practice.

With ayurveda doctors asking for an official approval from the State government to practice allopathy during emergency, MHJV views that this will end existence of the Indian system of medicine.

Currently, in Karnataka, there are over 25,000 doctors holding a recognized degree in ayurveda. More than 90 per cent have been practicing allopathy along with ayurveda system of medicine for several years. The remaining doctors strictly practice only ayurveda making the system survive in the State. Cross practice is prohibited under various legislations. However the State government is not concerned to check the illegal practice. With the ayurveda doctors demanding an official consent to adopt the allopathy system of medicine at least during emergency is a serious issue, stated JSD Pani, president, Mahiti Hakku Jagruiti Vedike.

There has also been no effort by the Karnataka Medical Council to ban the
cross practice of these ayurveda doctors. The demand to permit practicing allopathy in an emergency will be misused by the ayurveda doctors who would treat patients with allopathy drugs for all aliments, he added.

The only solution on hand is that Government should initiate legal action at the earliest. Further, it should also increase the budget allocation for the promotion of ayurveda. It should ensure that ayurveda doctors should only refer the emergency cases to qualified allopathy doctors. Another suggestion offered was to identify the emergency conditions and the allopathy drugs that could be prescribed. This would restrict the prescription of allopathy drugs by ayurveda doctors, pointed out Pani.

According to the ayurveda doctors, since the subject of anatomy and
physiology are same for MBBS and BAMS, they could be allowed to practice the allopathy.

MHJV expressed that if the ayurveda doctors to practice allopathy there could be occurrence of Adverse Drug Reactions and serious health hazards to public. Lack of complete knowledge and only superficial know-how of allopathy drugs could lead to increased deformities at birth including mental retardation. Government should address the issue on a war footing. MHJV pointed out that it is now making all efforts to ensure that under no circumstances government ignores the call to prevent cross practice.