The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered issue of notice to the State on a petition questioning the government’s decision to allow doctors practising Ayruveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) system of medicine at primary health centres (PHCs) to prescribe and administer allopathic medicines in an emergency and while implementing Shishu Raksha and other programmes.
Justice A.S. Bopanna passed the order on the petition filed by the Karnataka branch of Indian Medical Association and others questioning the legality of the notification that was issued on January 5, 2017.
The petition contended that the government’s decision was in contravention to the provisions under Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, which prohibit any person from practising modern medicine, popularly known as the allopathic system, unless he or she holds the necessary medical qualification to practice upon registration in any State medical register.
What IMC Act says
The petitioner has also questioned the government’s decision to impart a six-month training to AYUSH doctors on pharmacology, including the subject of allopathy. The association contended that only the IMC regulations can prescribe training in the modern system of medicine.
“The government’s decision will create havoc in the field of medical treatment and hands over the entire patient fraternity to the hands of ill-trained medical practitioners of an entirely different kind. This is a highly dangerous step taken in utter disregard to the standards of medical practice and also [to] the safety of patients,” the IMA-Karnataka petition stated.
