AYUSH training for medical interns worries doctors

AYUSH training for medical interns worries doctors

Differences in scientific basis between streams are among major worries for academicians

c-Jagriti.kumari@timesgroup.com

19.07.2021 

The latest guideline of the National Medical Commission (NMC) suggests that as part of 12-months compulsory rotating internship after passing the final MBBS examination, medical graduates need to undertake a week-long training in Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM). As part of the training, candidates may choose any elective, provided the discipline is available in the same college or institution where internship is being done.

Candidates can choose from Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Sowa Rigpa. However, the decision has triggered an intense debate among medical practioners. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has come to the fore opposing the decision. In its letter written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) opposing AYUSH training for medical students, IMA has termed the idea 'not prudent'.

Dr Rajesh Nachiappa Ganesh, professor, Department of Pathology, JIPMER, Puducherry, does not question the NMC’s intention.

However, he is worried about its implementation and execution.

“Absence of AYUSH courses, differences in fundamental scientific basis between various streams and lack of AYUSH experts in medical colleges will be a big hurdle in implementing the one-week training for medical students across the country,” says Dr Rajesh.

As part of the internship, medical graduates need to undergo mandatory training in community medicine (two months), general medicine

(1.5 months), psychiatry (two weeks), paediatrics (one month),general surgery (1.5) months, anaesthesiology and critical care (two-weeks), obstetrics and gynaecology including family welfare and planning (1.5 months), orthopaedics including physical medicine and rehabilitation-PM &R (two weeks), emergency/trauma/casualty (two weeks), forensic medicine and toxicology (one week), dermatology venereology & leprology (one week), otorhinolaryngology (two weeks), ophthalmology (two weeks), laboratory sciences and hospital support sciences (two weeks).

Dr Abhinav Arun Sonkar, head of surgery, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, says the purpose behind the inclusion of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Sowa Rigpa as an elective in internship is not yet clear. “Among all electives, Yoga is the one which is practised by many of us to stay healthy and fit. Interns might see this as an opportunity to know basics of Yoga and follow it in their lives while other subjects are completely new to graduates,” says Dr Sonkar.