The Union health ministry has clarified that education, practice, etc in the field of electropathy/electro-homoeopathy, which is stated to be an alternative system of medicine, is not recognized by the government as yet.

“As a matter of principle, this ministry is not in a position to support any clinical practice in electropathy or electro-homoeopathy, as this system of medicine itself does not stand recognized by the Union government at present. Any imparting of education leading to award of degrees or diplomas in this system is not permitted”, the health ministry clarified.

The ministry's clarification comes in the wake of reports that it comes across, from time to time, various petitions in courts and miscellaneous other references in the matter of education, practice, etc in the field of electropathy/electro-homoeopathy.

At present, the modern system of medicine is regulated through the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, the homoeopathic system of medicine is regulated through the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and the four Indian systems of medicine, namely Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Unani, are regulated through the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.

For recognition of other systems of medicine, it is proposed to bring a legislation, titled 'The Recognition of New systems of Medicine-Bill'.   The proposed purport of the draft Bill is, inter alia, to provide for the procedure for recognition of new systems of medicine for the purpose of practice and education in those systems and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, the ministry clarified.

Senior officials in the Union health ministry said that the present stand of the government on the issues of electropath/electro-homoeopathy is governed by the provisions contained in the government's earlier four orders during the last some years.  However, once the proposed legislation to recognize new systems of medicine (including electropathy/electro-homoeopathy) is enacted, any recognition, practice or education in those systems would be regulated in accordance with the proposed Act.

Officials have also made it clear that, at present, the health ministry has neither set up, recognized or authorized any body or entity, in whatever form, to impart education in the electropathy/electro-homoeopathy nor it propose to do so till a legislation is put in place.