IMA warns of 'mixopathy', 'hybrid doctors', urges NMC to block JIPMER-Auroville MBBS-BAMS dual degree plan

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly condemned plans of JIPMER Puducherry to introduce the first integrative course mixing BAMS and MBBS and said it is certain that the National Medical Commission (NMC) will oppose the decision.

The IMA has been opposing the mixing of modern medicine with traditional systems - Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy – arguing that each system must remain distinct. The association calls this integration ‘mixopathy’ and an ‘unscientific attempt’ that threatens the purity of modern medicine and health of future generations.

In November 2020, the government issued a notification allowing postgraduate Ayurveda practitioners to be trained to perform general surgical procedures. Ever since, the IMA has staged several protests and have been resisting the move to authorise practitioners of alternative disciplines of medicine to perform surgery.

JIPMER plans India’s first MBBA-BAMS dual-degree

In the latest reports on plans to launch the country’s first integrative MBBS-BAMS course in JIPMER Puducherry, the IMA said: “JIPMER would no longer remain an institute of national importance if such an "unscientific step" is taken. IMA is certain that the National Medical Commission (NMC) is not being consulted on this decision and NMC will strongly oppose the decision.”

“We have witnessed how modern medicine has helped humanity in eradicating, controlling and treating several lifethreatening diseases. More recently, it was modern medicine which rescued millions of our countrymen through vaccination and anti-viral medications during the Covid-19 pandemic,” it said.

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RTI reveals Auroville link

Dr Babu K V recently filed a Right to Information (RTI) query that revealed fresh details about the government-backed plan to launch Integral Medical Education offering dual degrees in MBBS and BAMS at the Auroville Foundation.

The association referred to the plans afoot for setting up of Integral Medical Education leading to dual degrees MBBS and BAMS at Auroville Foundation and urged the NMC to immediately intervene and take corrective measures.

Auroville Foundation, a township endorsed by UNESCO and the Government of India, meant to be an experiment in human unity, proposed setting up the institution through an agreement between Auroville Foundation, JIPMER and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar.

According to the RTI response, the draft curricula for the MBBS-BAMS dual degree programme have been prepared in collaboration with Ayurvedic universities and JIPMER, and are currently being fine-tuned to integrate methodologies from both streams of medicine.

IMA opposes hybrid doctors

Reiterating its opposition, the IMA urged the government to refrain from producing hybrid doctors “who will be only qualified quacks”.

Stating that ‘mixopathy’ takes away the right from patients, the IMA said: “Let it be the choice of the patient to choose any system of medicine.”

IMA demands that the Government withdraw this regressive proposal in the best interest of the health of the people. “Let it be the choice of the patient to choose any system of medicine. Mixopathy takes away that right from the patient,” it added.