A recent
circular by Dr. Vishwas Mehta with a copy to Shri S.C.L. Dass, Principal
Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi
talks about amendments in the State Medical
Councils.
The
Government wants to fill up the vacancies in Primary Health Care Centers.
Initially the Government wanted to bring about a concept of 3½ years BSc
course and unable to implement the same, is now thinking of substituting
ISM doctors in the main stream of Allopathic doctors so that they can be posted
in PHCs in remote areas and practice allopathy.
The Government, therefore, wants AYUSH doctors to practice
Allopathic system of medicine so that they can provide service in rural
areas. Department of AYUSH has already taken a go ahead from the
Health Ministry to empower ISM qualified doctors to practice modern system
of medicine in limited way.
To
overcome 1998 Hon’ble Supreme Court of India judgment of Justice K.T.
Thomas and Justice Syed Shah Mohammed Quadri in the Dr Mukhtiar Chand vs State
of Punjab where it was mentioned that nobody can practice modern system of
medicine unless he or she is enrolled with the State Medical Register
maintained by State Medical Council.
The Government, therefore, wants all ISM doctors also to be registered
with Allopathic State Medical Council. For that they are even willing to
amend the State Medical Council Act. The current correspondence by
the Centre to the State Health Secretaries initiates the process of amendment
of State Medical Council Act so that ISM doctors can also be registered
under the State Medical Register and they can practice Allopathy.
What are the future implications?
(i) Allopathy is a specialized field of medicine. Doctors
trained in ISM are in no way qualified enough to practice Allopathy and understand
the Allopathic concepts. It will not be in the interest of the patient if this
happens.
(ii) If all AYUSH doctors are allowed to practice Allopathy even
if it is limited (which can never be implemented in the country), this will provide
a back door entry for people to practice Allopathy who cannot secure admission
in MBBS.
(iii) Up till now Homoeopathy, Ayurvedic medical colleges, etc. have had
no issues of capitation fee. Once this programme is implemented, all seats in
these colleges will also attract hefty capitation fees with resultant
corruption.
(iv) Besides Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Yoga are also recognized
Indian systems of medicines. Today one can get a Yoga degree after
passing 10th class and doing two evening classes per week for two years.
Sooner or later they will also wish to practice Allopathy system of
medicine and demand the same.
v. When you are posted in PHCs, you are supposed to do some surgical procedures
also. In ISM practically there is no exposure to surgeries at a national
level.
vi. Though
in the case of Dr. Mukhtiar judgment, it may be written that you can practice
only that medicine once you are registered in that Council but one should not
forget the Supreme Court judgment in Poonam Verma case, where it is clearly
written that one cannot practice a particular Pathy unless he has studied the
same in greater detail.
vii. The Maharashtra Government wanted to start a one year course for ISM
doctors in Allopathy so that they can practice limited Allopathy. But the same
was resented by the medical professionals.
I fail to understand why ISM doctors need to practice modern medicine. If
Government is so serious and feels that ISM doctors are important then why
can't they be posted every village in the country to practice Homeopathy, Ayurveda,
etc? By promoting them to practice
modern system of medicine, the Government is giving an indication that
Homeopathy and Ayurveda are not full-fledged systems of medicine.
Also, if the Govt. feels that the number of doctors is less in the country, they
should open a medical college in every district of the country. Why should
medical colleges be limited to urban cities?
I don’t see any reason that if an opportunity is given to private sector to
open medical colleges in rural areas, they would not do so. Even a 50-seat medical
college in every district will help the country in the long run.
