IMA strongly opposed permitting Ayurvedic doctors to perform 58 surgical procedures.

Hyderabad: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which represents allopathy doctors countrywide, has launched a scathing attack and protest against a recent directive by the Andhra Pradesh government, allowing postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors to independently perform 58 specific surgical procedures.

Terming the move a huge blunder, the association warned that integrating traditional and modern medicine (Mixopathy) could have catastrophic consequences for public health

The government order permits Ayurvedic practitioners specialising in Shalya Tantra (General Surgery) and Shalakya Tantra (ENT/Ophthalmology) to perform complex surgeries, including appendicectomies, hernia repairs, and cataract operations.

The national president of IMA, Dr. Dilip P. Bhanushali in a statement said that the decision will play havoc with the lives of people. The IMA argued that surgical competence requires over a decade of intensive training in human anatomy, physiology, and modern anesthesia.

Surgery is not just about the procedure; it is about managing pre-operative risks and post-operative complications. Allowing practitioners without rigorous modern medical training to handle surgical blades is a compromise on patient safety,” IMA in a press release said.

The IMA has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the order, asserting that while they respect Ayurveda in its pure form, unscientific mixing of medical streams is a regressive step. The association plans to submit a formal memorandum to the Prime Minister and the union Health Minister to intervene to prevent the decision from being implemented