Protest against ‘Mixo-pathy’

Allopathic v. Ayurvedic

Recently, doctors of India have become the latest group to protest against the Modi government’s politics.

In March, with the beginning of the rush of the COVID-19 in India, PM Modi, in a televised address to the nation, asked people to clang utensils in a show of appreciation for the frontline healthcare workers, risking their lives to protect people from Coronavirus in India.

Nine months down the line,

Same medical fraternity is up in arms against the government over its move to allow post-graduate ayurvedic students to conduct surgeries.

What is Mixopathy?

It is a term coined by doctors to explain the process through which the government is trying to integrate different kinds of alternative medicine systems, like homeopathy and Ayurveda, with modern medical science. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is arguing that Ayurveda practitioners shouldn’t be allowed to carry out complicated surgeries that take years to learn.

Allopathic doctors have dubbed it an assault on the modern medicine system, a decision that would encourage quackery and endanger the lives of the people.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that uses a combination of diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing to treat illnesses. It is an alternative medicine system with the historical roots with the Indian subcontinent.

What is the government trying to do?

In November, Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body under the AYUSH Ministry, issued a gazette notification, listed 39 general surgery procedures and 19 other procedures, involving the eye, ear, nose and throat, by amending the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurvedic Education) Regulations, 2016. These surgeries include general surgery, orthopaedic, ophthalmology, ENT and dental surgeries.

As per the notification, Ayurvedic doctors will be now allowed to perform complicated surgery such as excisions of benign tumours, amputation of gangrene, and nasal among other professionals after training for 2 years.

Also, New education policy 2020 stated plans of integration of modern medicine with the traditional system of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).

However, the National Integrated medical Association (NIMA) has welcomed the government’s decision, allopathic doctors are against the decision.

IMA’s stand on the issue

Indian Medical Association (IMA) is a national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in India, which looks after the interest of doctors or the well being of the community at large.

IMA observed a 12-hour long strike from 6 am to 6 pm on 11th December to protest against this notification by withdrawing all non-essential and non-COVID services. However, emergency services, including casualty, labour rooms, intensive care units and emergency surgeries, were exempted from the strike.

R V Asokan, hony. secretary general, IMA, said: “The IMA appeals to the Central Government to desist from proceeding with mixopathy as the option for Universal Health Coverage. Withdrawal of the notification and dissolution of NITI Aayog committees of integration will be the steps in the right direction. IMA’s concerns are the concerns of the patients. IMA has no option but to intensify the agitation if the Government persists with mixopathy.’’

“550-odd medical colleges are turning out around 1,00,000 doctors every year. There is only a lack of political will and investment to expand and strengthen services. States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have employed MBBS doctors in PHCs on a permanent basis and deployed them gainfully 24x7. Around 1,50,000 young MBBS doctors are unemployed at any point of time trying their chances at PG NEET. Mixopathy for cheap labour will be a cruel joke on these young doctors,’’ said the IMA.

Black bands all-over the country

Regarding the notification for introducing Mixo-pathy in the medical services caused a whole chaos in the work of doctors of India.

While doctors wore black ribbons in the workplaces, several other demonstrations were organised in other places of the country.

Hunger strikes and Raj Bhavan marches have also been reported. All across the country, OPDs remained closed. Doctors from Government sectors participated in several places. The entire cross- section of the medical profession participated in full strength.

Doctors from the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi and other government hospitals wore black bands to register their protest. The Resident Doctors’ Association of AIIMS-Delhi, in a statement, said, “This step will not only encourage already rampant quackery, but also undermine the safety of the public. We request the government of India to retract this notification immediately”.

In Hyderabad,

Doctors displayed posters reading “Roll back AYUSH bill on mixopathy” and “Say NO to Mixopathy”.

Conclusion

India has had parallel systems of medicine since ancient times, but anatomical dissection and the application of scientific evidence-based practices differentiate the modern system of medicine from alternative practices such as homeopathy or ayurvedic. From Guwahati to Kerala, from Telangana to Uttar Pradesh, the doctor's fraternity is aghast. Every pathy (Medical branch) has its own necessity and is unique.

Basically, the government cited this notification that such a step, people will exercise pluralistic choices in healthcare. But was it even necessary? Like what would have been necessary was that the network of clinics and dispensaries that had shut after the pandemic outbreak should have been allowed to reopen, fresh recruitments should have been made, families of doctors who lost their lives in the process could have been compensated.