Karnataka directorate of Ayush has submitted a report to the State government seeking a provision to allow ayurveda practitioners to provide emergency health care using allopathic medicines and mode of treatment. This is in a bid to save patients during medical emergencies.

The report comes following repeated requests from the Karnataka Ayurveda Doctors and Practitioners Association, Dr BN Prakash, director, Karnataka directorate of Ayush told Pharmabiz. Although the Supreme Court order does not allow ayurveda doctors to dispense allopathic drugs, it has permitted cross practice to the extent notified by the State government, he added.

According to Dr Prakash, the present rule does not permit the prescription of allopathic drugs by the ayurveda doctors. But with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Punjab having included a provision, Karnataka could also go ahead and do the same, he said.

There are also no effective and prompt solutions in Ayush for snake bites, scorpion bite, poison consumption, mycocardial infraction, complicated deliveries and major trauma. Even 'Ksharasutra' which is an effective surgical solution in ayurveda for fissures and fistula requires anaesthesia. Even cholera and gastroenteritis, which are common illnesses in rural healthcare, can be treated only with non-Ayush drugs.

In order to enforce the rule with the support of professionals, the Ayush director has also proposed the formation of a committee which will include not only representatives from the ayurveda medical fraternity but also the allopathic segment, lawyers and representatives of the Indian Medical Association to discuss the social, ethical, moral, economic and legal issues before the rule is introduced.

The report presented to the State government a fortnight ago, also brought out the pros and cons of recommending allopathic drugs by ayurveda doctors.

For ayurveda practitioners working in rural areas, where there is no access to medical facilities, it is necessary to enable ayurvedic doctors to undertake life saving measures at least till the patients are referred to secondary or tertiary medical centres. "This provision should be made more in the interest of the patients than the practitioners of the system," informed Dr Praskash.

The state government is also making efforts to train the paramedical staff and midwives in modern medical interventions. The Ayush practitioners are far more qualified than paramedical staff and could be more competent to prescribe and undertake allopathic drugs and methods of treatment.

Further, the Aysuh degree students are provided adequate exposure in modern medicine during their graduation in BAMS. The curriculum also covers anatomy, physiology, pathology, surgery, gynaecology and forensic medicine. In case, experts in the field are of the view that curriculum needs to be updated, the same could be done at an undergraduate level by the University.

Another point brought out by the Ayush director was that ayurveda graduates are posted to allopathic medical centres during their internship and are exposed to the practical aspects of medical emergencies.

"It is a serious policy decision which involves legal, technical and medical issues. We need to examine the complexities with the Indian Medical Association and other experts before we decide on the implementation," Madan Gopal, secretary, Karnataka health and family welfare said.

According to Dr Hakim, State president, National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA), ayurveda doctors in Karnataka should be permitted legally to prescribe allopathic treatment options to save a patient's life. During an emergency in a remote rural area, dispensing modern system of medicine by ayurveda doctors can help critical cases.