Monday 17 June 2013

ISM - practice of modern medicine

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.

4 comments:

  1. Why should medical colleges be limited to urban cities?
    Even a 50-seat medical college in every district will help the country in the long run.

    Above 2 lines by you make complete sense regarding FUTURE preparation but Q remains about today-What is the way out to serve Rural remote areas without this ISM graduate inclusion in the system with limited Allopathic use?
    In our country -WE fight like fools about systems of Medicine without considering the SEVICES required and Educated Medical Man's availability.
    Many countries have Integrated the health services.
    But we here-ALLOPATHS feel they have all landed from UK only and AYURVED graduates think they can survive with allopathy only-loosing self confidence of their system and Wisdom.
    Real time Ayurved syllabus can make a Allopath trained person BETTER doctor, and this move of ISM inclusion will make Him a better DOCTOR.
    So without bickering WE should go ahead to serve the Masses.
    Public is already prey to Mal-treatment by ONE real quack who has only cleaned a clinic for few years-now a DOCTOR in a corner where YOU and I both will not go.
    Are u happy with this RMP stuff going on?
    Let us think in the interest of our Population.
    If Britishers were Not here U-WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO STUDY allopathy THERE.

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  2. This only shows that after having failed to solve the problems of lack of manpower and infrastructure in the rural areas(viz.setting up medical colleges,recruiting doctors & para medical professionals etc.)in the normal course of way, government is trying to pursue short cut bypass methods to create medical facilities for the rural areas. But this is an dangerous step to put at risk the lives of millions of our countrymen by allowing non-allopathic doctors to practice allopathic medicine. Has there been a place anywhere in the world where such a system is in vogue or found successful? Does any of our politician/beauracrat consult such a non-alloapthic turned allopathic physician when it comes to their own family members? As a next step, will the govt. legalise quackery and allow them to practice in a limited way in resource poor settings?
    There should be a national debate on this issue.

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  3. Dear Mr Choudhari, Beauracrat & politicain even do not trust you for their treatment that is why they prefer USA/UK etc for there treatment. Try & consider a united front for giving a thumb up to the meagre health facilities in our country.

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  4. Many Allopathic Doctors practicing Homeopathy With out any Homeopathic Degree. My dear Allopathic Doctors you guys following ur pharmacopoeia and surgery well and good. but why the allopathic doctors not allowing the AYUSH doctors to take the PG in Preclinical subjects like Anatomy Physiology, Community Medicine etc. And Not allowing the AYUSH doctors to the administrative level also , Why allopaths doctors blocking other stream of doctors entry in the Main streaming and Administrative level. Why the allopathic doctors made the MBBS is the only entry key for all higher postings, We differ only in pharmacopoeia, and surgery.

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