A section of doctors of modern medicine, AMAI oppose allowing MBBS graduates into Ayurveda PG course

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

Even as Ayurveda physicians are up in arms against the Union Ayush ministry’s plan to admit MBBS graduates into Ayurveda PG courses, mixed responses have come from experts in the modern medical system. Some of them have welcomed the decision of the government, some others opposed. Fully supporting the move of the government, the eminent doctor and medico-legal-consultant in New Delhi, Prof M C Gupta has responded to Pharmabiz that things about efficacy proven medicines and scientifically validated methods of ancient treatment systems can be shared with the students of modern medical science. “Different systems of medicine need not remain opposed to each other. The good and scientifically validated parts of various ancient systems of medicine need to be researched and brought within the fold of holistic modern medicine,” he said. Another doctor from Haryana said there should be a short crash course for the MBBS graduates to know the basics of Ayurveda before they are admitted to PG courses in the ancient system. According to him it is not easy to learn Ayurveda at PG level without grasping basic knowledge in it. But, expressing an unfavorable opinion about the Ayush ministry’s plan, the eminent neurosurgeon and the former vice-chancellor of Kerala University, Dr B Eqbal said he does not support the government move in this regard. According to him, if the allopathy medical graduates want to study Ayurveda, they can go for the graduate course first. If they want to do the PG in Ayurveda, they must do the UG also in the same subject. He said the MBBS graduates must avoid trying for Ayurveda PG without achieving a graduation in it. Meanwhile, the president of the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) has written a letter to the Union minister of Ayush requesting him to not go ahead with the move of admitting MBBS graduates into MD and MS courses of Ayurveda. He said, at present a graduate in Ayurveda, who aspires to join the PG course, normally completes his graduation, BAMS, after 5½ years of study. Then, without any basic knowledge in the system if one is admitted into the PG course, it will question the authenticity and significance of Ayurveda system, said Dr G Vinodkumar, president of AMAI. Further he said in the letter that the government move is a violation of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act of 1970 and the PG Regulations laid down there under by Central Council of Indian Medicine. The Section 6 (1) of the PG Regulations defines the basic qualification for post graduation in Ayurveda as BAMS. Dr Vinodkumar also wanted the Ayush ministry to stop the plan of conducting separate entrance test for students to join Ayurveda degree course. Currently, the students are selected from the list of common entrance examination and that system should be followed.