PANAJI
IMA Goa on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant protesting the Central government decision to authorise certain streams of Ayurvedic study to perform 58 surgical procedures.
IMA Goa President Dr Samuel S, Dr Shekhar Salkar, Taran Mukharji and executive committee members of IMA-MSN (Medical Students Network) met the CM at his official residence at Altinho and expressed their extreme disappointment and dismay at the steps taken by the central government to disrupt the allopathic modern system of medicine.
“We have high regard and respect for the alternative system of medicine under AYUSH and we encourage the promotion of the same in its pure form. It is unfortunate and detrimental to the fragile health system prevalent in our country which requires a robust system to meet the day to day requirement of the citizens. Instead, the government decided to weaken the quality and training of healthcare workers,” the memorandum reads.
It further states that this adulteration of the existing system and institution instead of upgrading the facilities in alternate medicine system is “dangerous and will have a far-reaching impact on the society”
CM told the gathering that if his opinion is sought, he will pass this on to the Central government as the matter is a central subject.
It may be recalled that through a gazette notification dated November 20, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a Ministry of AYUSH statutory body, had authorised postgraduate students of certain ‘streams’ of Ayurvedic study to perform 58 surgical procedures. The Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations 2016 was amended as a result of the notification.
“During the period of study, postgraduate scholars of Shalya and Shalakya shall be practically trained to acquaint with as well as to independently perform the [said] activities so that after completion of his PG degree, he is able to perform [said] procedures independently,” the amendment reads.
