NEP 2020, NITI Aayog promote ‘mixopathy’; IMA announces relay strike

NEW DELHI: The National doctor's body, the Indian Medical Association, has once against criticised the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Centre's think-tank, NITI Aayog, for promoting "mixopathy" and the "khichdification" of medical education in India. The IMA has announced a relay hunger strike starting from February 1.

The latest round of protest was prompted by a notification issued on January 19 by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) allowing practitioners of alternative disciplines of medicine Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, or AYUSH -- to perform surgeries.

The NEP 2020 and the four committees of the NITI Aayog have suggested integrating the systems of medicine in medical education, practice, public health and administration. A statement issued by the IMA to oppose this says: “The notification of the amendment to the CCIM Act on postgraduate Ayurveda surgery and the entitlement to study and practice independently have to be seen as another step in advancing and legitimizing mixopathy. In fact, the purity and identity of Ayurveda stand equally challenged….This illegal notification by CCIM is the culmination of the Khichadification of medical education and practice initiated by National Education Policy and NITI Aayog.”

MBBS, MS and AYUSH

The association has stated that allowing AYUSH practitioners to perform surgeries is
“unscientific, unsafe, impractical”. Modern medicine is taught through a 4.5 years’ MBBS course. IMA states: “The specialization in surgical specialities needs further three years of strict learning and practice. The...modern medical education system gives out a trained surgeon at the end of nearly 10 years. The basic need for medical practice is the quality and safety of the patient. Surgery without proper vigorous training will have disastrous results.”

IMA has demanded the withdrawal of the CCIM order and dissolution of the NITI Aayog committees for integration. It has decided to launch a pan-India relay hunger strike from February 1, 2021, and release the awareness posters and banners across the country and convey their feelings to the prime minister.

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