Doctors oppose Andhra govt's decision allowing Ayurveda practitioners to perform surgeries
Vijayawada: The doctors have strongly condemned the Andhra Government's decision to allow approved, trained Ayurvedic practitioners to perform surgeries independently.
Calling the move misleading and against scientific principles, the Andhra Pradesh branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has warned that this decision would put patient safety at risk.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that amid strong opposition from sections of the medical community over mixing allopathy and Ayurveda, the Andhra Pradesh Government allowed postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors who have proper training to independently perform certain surgical procedures in the state.
Last week, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav approved the decision, aiming to integrate the traditional Indian system of medicine with modern medical practices. The permission has been granted in line with the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) guidelines of 2020 and the norms laid down by the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM).
IMA AP branch has now opposed the move, arguing that the "surgical procedures demand structured, supervised and extensive training that is exclusively imparted through the MBBS and MS/MCh" curricula governed by the National Medical Commission (NMC)." In a recent Press Note, the association has warned that any deviation from these standards places patient safety at serious risk.
Also Read: Ayurveda-Allopathy Fusion Faces Backlash, Doctors urge Govt to reconsider JIPMER plan
The association explained that from a scientific standpoint, surgery is not merely a technical skill but a complex discipline requiring in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, perioperative critical care, anaesthesia, and complication management, which are all part of a training that is standardised and validated only within modern medicine.
"Cross-practice without equivalent training and accreditation is neither evidence-based nor ethically justified," the association said.
IMA AP State further strongly asserted that healthcare policymaking must be guided by science, law, and patient welfare, not by administrative assurances or political statements. Such remarks risk misleading the public and eroding trust in the healthcare system.
Apart from this, the association also highlighted that allowing Indian Medicine practitioners to perform surgeries is a matter currently sub judice before the Supreme Court of India. The case in this regard was filed in 2020 and has been scheduled for the next hearing on January 8, 2026. Previously, the matter was last listed on 04.11.2022.
Referring to the case history, the association argued that, considering the fact that the matter is actively pending before the Supreme Court, any assurances or policy statements by state authorities on allowing Ayurvedic PG doctors to perform surgeries are legally untenable and amount to prejudging a matter under judicial consideration.
Accordingly, the association has urged the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Health Minister to withdraw these statements and further requested to refrain from any policy commitments that violate existing laws and the Supreme Court proceedings. The association also called for meaningful consultation with recognized medical bodies before making announcements with far-reaching implications. It further warned that if the issue is not addressed responsibly, they would have no other option but to pursue appropriate democratic and legal remedies at the State and national levels.
Which Surgeries were Allowed by the AP Government?
The state allowed eligible Ayurvedic doctors to carry out a total of 58 surgical procedures. These procedures fall under two specialities, Shalya Tantra, which deals with general surgery, and Shalakya Tantra, which covers ENT, eye, and dental procedures.
Under Shalakya Tantra, Ayurvedic practitioners are allowed to perform 19 ENT, eye, and dental procedures. These include cataract and glaucoma surgeries, correction of eyelid and lacrimal disorders, septoplasty, nasal polyp removal, ear lobe repair, tonsillectomy, tooth extraction and cleft lip repair.
Response from Doctors:
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Headquarters has also opposed this policy decision by the Andhra Pradesh Government. Expressing its concern regarding the State's decision to allow Ayurvedic practitioners to perform surgical procedures, IMA mentioned in a recent release that while the association respects all systems of medicine and acknowledges the role of Ayurveda and other traditional pathies in preventive and promotive healthcare, performing surgical procedures requires rigorous, structured, and specialized training that is integral to modern medical education.
Arguing that medical practitioners without equivalent training and exposure to perform surgeries pose a serious risk to patient safety and public health, the association mentioned, "IMA firmly believes that such decisions are not in the best interest of the people of India and may compromise the standards of healthcare delivery. Instead of strengthening healthcare systems, this move may create confusion, legal complications, and erosion of trust among patients."
IMA has urged the authorities to reconsider and review such policies in the interest of patient safety, maintain clear boundaries between different systems of medicine, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure by increasing seats, training, and opportunities in modern medicine rather than diluting standards.
"IMA reiterates its commitment to ethical medical practice, evidence-based medicine, and safeguarding the health of the nation. Patient safety must remain paramount," the release added.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding this issue, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, a health activist and Chief Patron of FAIMA Doctors Association, termed this decision as "absolutely bizarre".
"Surgery is not a skill that can be borrowed from another system of medicine through a government notification. It requires years of structured, supervised, hands-on training. Allowing non-MBBS trained practitioners to perform modern surgical procedures is a dangerous experiment on patients and a complete dilution of medical standards," Dr. Krishnan said.
He further added, "Surgery is not merely about making an incision — it is about pre-operative diagnosis, anesthetic fitness, sterile protocols, intra-operative crisis handling, post-operative ICU care and long-term complication management. These competencies are built over many years of MBBS and MS training with continuous supervised exposure to real-life emergencies. Allowing practitioners trained in a different system of medicine to perform modern surgical procedures without this rigorous foundation places patients at unacceptable risk — from uncontrolled bleeding and anesthesia complications to missed diagnoses and delayed referrals. When something goes wrong in the operating theatre, there is no second chance. Health policy must never turn patients into experimental subjects."
Dr. Indranil Deshmukh, the National Secretary of IMA JDN Standing Committee, said, "Surgery is not something that can be learnt through short courses. It requires years of structured training, supervised exposure, and the ability to manage complications and emergencies. We respect Ayurveda as a traditional system of medicine, but allowing practitioners without formal surgical training comparable to modern medical standards to perform surgeries raises serious concerns about patient safety. We are confident that the Health Ministry will continue to engage with stakeholders and take decisions in the best interest of patients and the nation."
The Chairman of IMA JDN MSN Gurgaon, Dr. Karan Juneja, also urged the authorities to discuss such policy decisions with stakeholders before implementation. "Permitting Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries without the required training would pose a risk to patient safety," he added.
M.A in English Barsha completed her Master's in English from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal in 2018. Having a knack for Journalism she joined Medical Dialogues back in 2020. She mainly covers news about medico legal cases, NMC/DCI updates, medical education issues including the latest updates about medical and dental colleges in India. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
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