The Organisation of the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers of India (AMMOI) has urged the Kerala government to update the Register of the Ayurveda practitioners enrolled with the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council (TCMC).

It has also wanted the state government to amend the Travancore -Cochin Medical Practitioners Act 1953 and introduce Kerala Medical Practitioners Act for the whole jurisdiction of the state.

The TCMC was formed in 1955 based on the TCMP Act 1953 and it acts as a joint medical council comprising members from the councils of modern medicine, Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathic medicine.

While briefing Pharmabiz about the present set-up of the Council, Dr D Ramanathan, secretary of AMMOI, said the period of the nominated members of the Ayurveda body to the Council ended in October 2014 and new members will be nominated by the government shortly. But the Ayurveda community in Kerala does not support the nomination system, instead they want election of members. So, he wanted the government to stop the nomination process and conduct election in its place. But, before the process starts, the government should update the Register to conduct a smooth election to the Council.

AMMOI’s argument is that the present Register comprises 14000 qualified practitioners (A class) and 6080 unqualified persons (B class) claiming to be traditional healers. When the Council came into being in 1955, special consideration was given to a set of traditional healers, but 90 per cent of them have already expired. However, the names of the persons are still in the Register and in their names unqualified members from their families are practising as indigenous practitioners. This has to be prevented and stopped, Dr Ramanathan said.

According to him, the Travancore-Cochin Medical Practitioners Act, 1953 was promulgated to regulate the qualifications and to provide registration of medicine practitioners. It ensures that only competent and qualified persons can practice medicine in the state. However, at the time of implementation of the Act, for those who were practicing without recognised qualification prior to 1.4.1953 for a continuous period of five years, there was provision to grant part-B registration. As per that provision, approximately 6080 part-B registrations were granted. The same Roll is continuing even now though 90 per cent of them have died already. AMMOI wants the government to update the Register after deleting the names of the deceased.

He said the government should take up steps to amend the TCMP Act 1953 and introduce Kerala Medical Practitioners Act. When TCMC was formed in 1955, its jurisdiction contained the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin areas only.