JIPMER denies plans for MBBS-BAMS integrated course
mbbs and ayurveda
Puducherry: Amid ongoing speculations and protests by allopathic doctors regarding the MBBS-BAMS integrated course, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has clarified that there are no plans to introduce such a programme at the institute as of now.
Therefore, the institute has urged everyone to rely solely on official communication for accurate and authentic information from JIPMER.
Addressing the issue, JIPMER mentioned in a Press Release dated 13.09.2025, "It has come to the notice of JIPMER that there have been media reports regarding introduction of dual degree programme integrating MBBS and BAMS at the Institute."
"The Institute hereby categorically clarifies that there is no move to introduce any such programme at JIPMER as of now. The Institute urges the media and general public to rely solely on official communication for accurate and authentic information from JIPMER," it added.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the announcement of India's first integrated MBBS and BAMS course at JIPMER, Puducherry, was made by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, on May 27.
Also Read: MBBS-BAMS Integrated Course at JIPMER to span over 5 years
The file notings from the Union Health Ministry showed that the proposal for setting up the institute to teach the MBBS-BAMS integrated course came from the Auroville Foundation in January 2024. Consequently, JIPMER, in collaboration with Ayurvedic universities, prepared a draft curriculum for the proposed integral medical education to grant the dual degrees of MBBS and BAMS.
The RTI responses, therefore, suggested that statutory bodies like NMC, CCIM were not involved in the process of starting such an MBBS-BAMS dual degree course at JIPMER.
When JIPMER was asked to share the details of the proposal to the integrated medical course combining MBBS and BAMS, and the communications between JIPMER and the Union Health Ministry/AYUSH Ministry/NMC regarding the proposal, it said that such records and communications were unavailable and therefore could not be provided.
"The requested information of such records/communications are not available in the office of the CPIO, Academic Section. Hence, the requested information cannot be provided under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005," JIPMER said while responding to the RTI queries raised by Dr. Babu.
Allopathic doctors have been strongly objecting to Government's plan of combining MBBS with BAMS. Recently, the Indian Medical Association strongly criticised the attempts being made to unscientifically mix different systems of medicine, adding that "We respect all systems of medicine and strongly opine that we need to preserve the purity of each system."
Referring to the plans of the MBBS-BAMS integrated course at JIPMER, the association said, "JIPMER would no longer remain an institute of national importance if such an unscientific step is taken."
Also Read: JIPMER MBBS-BAMS Plan: Are statutory bodies being left out? RTIs reveal gaps
