IMA's strike on December 11: Here's why doctors are fuming
What's the story
In the middle of a raging pandemic, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has asked doctors to stop services on December 11, in response to a notification issued by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) which opened doors for post-graduate students of Ayurveda to be trained in surgeries.
Furious over this, IMA asked doctors to not indulge in non-essential and non-COVID-19 matters on the said date.
Context
What is the matter all about?
In a gazetted notification issued last month, CCIM said, "The (PG Ayurveda) students would receive training in shalya (general surgery) and shalakya (diseases of ear, nose, throat, eye, head, oro-dentistry) specializations. (sic)"
The body added that they will be able to perform procedures like skin grafting, cataract surgery, and root canal treatment legally.
CCIM added that students will receive training in two surgery streams.
Reaction
Angry IMA asked CCIM to develop its own surgical disciplines
Fuming at the notification, IMA issued a press note on Saturday asking CCIM to develop its own surgical disciplines, based on ancient texts.
"The IMA will have no objections for the council to develop their own dedicated disciplines without mixing modern medicine surgical disciplines," the press release added.
It also said CCIM has a questionable record of giving modern medicine books to its students.
Quote
We are drawing a "Lakshman Rekha": IMA
Saying that CCIM was empowering its practitioners with undeserving areas of practice, IMA added, "They have no right to the technical terms, techniques, and procedures of modern medicine. The IMA draws the Lakshman Rekha which they can cross at their peril."
Statement
This will kill NEET's importance: IMA President
Separately, IMA President Dr. Rajan Sharma drew attention to the efforts put by NEET aspirants, saying they sacrifice social life to crack the examination.
"Lakhs of students appear and only 80,000 clear NEET. If Ayurveda students are allowed to do surgeries, NEET will lose its importance," he told The Sunday Guardian.
He said "mediocratization" of education will not be tolerated.
Series of events
Later, AYUSH Ministry attempted to ease tensions, IMA announced strike
As IMA remained angry, the AYUSH Ministry attempted to calm tensions.
It said, "The notification is specific to these specified surgical procedures and does not allow Shalya and Shalakya post-graduates to take up any other types of surgery."
But IMA remained unconvinced and gave a call to doctors to boycott services instead. Notably, neither emergency services, nor ICUs/CCUs will be affected by the strike.
Quote
Doctors will stage protest between 6 am and 6 pm
"Launching the freedom struggle of modern medicine from the forces of 'mixopathy,' IMA has directed public demonstration activities and withdrawal of non-essential and non-COVID services on December 11, 2020, from 6 AM to 6 PM," IMA's statement read.
NITI Aayog
IMA also wants NITI Aayog's integration committees to be dissolved
Besides the abrogation of CCIM's notification, IMA also wants the dissolution of four committees formed by NITI Aayog.
Dr. Sharma explained, "The four committees of NITI Aayog for integrating the systems of medicine in medical education, practice, public health, and administration, as well as research ostensibly for a one nation one system policy, will ring the death knell of modern medicine system."
Demonstration
A demonstration against "mixopathy" has been planned on December 8
The body has also planned a massive demonstration on December 8, between 12 noon and 2 pm.
All participants will be required to don white aprons, along with stethoscopes, and carry placards with slogans against "mixopathy." The participants were asked to respect coronavirus-related precautions.
IMA Secretary-General Dr. RV Asokan said the agitation will be intensified if demands aren't met.