Doctors demand withdrawal of MBBS- BAMS integrated course
doctors
New Delhi: Condemning the attempts to mix MBBS and BAMS courses, the doctors have demanded the withdrawal of the integrated course plan at JIPMER.
The doctors urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Union Health Ministry to urgently look into the plans of setting up an institute for providing Integral Medical Education at Aurvoville Foundation and take necessary action in this regard.
Expressing concern about the health of the citizens due to these developments, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to the nation to resist "this indiscretion for the health of future generations."
The association opined that it should be open to the patients to choose their preferred system of medicine, and mixopathy takes away that right from the patients. "We once again strongly urge the concerned authorities to refrain from producing hybrid doctors who will be only qualified quacks," the association stated.
IMA's Press Release on Mixopathy comes in response to the announcement of India's first integrated MBBS and BAMS course at JIPMER, Puducherry. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the announcement sparked outrage among doctors nationwide. Calling the Union Government's plans to mix different systems of medicine (Ayurveda and Modern Medicine) as "unscientific" and "Unfortunate", the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had earlier demanded that the Government withdraw the "regressive proposal" in the interest of public health.
Recently, 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.
Under the NMC Act, 2019, NMC, the Central Council of Homoeopathy and the Central Council of Indian Medicine are required to have a joint sitting at least once a year, to "enhance interface between Homoeopathy, Indian Systems of Medicine and modern systems of medicine", and "approving specific educational modules or programmes that may be introduced in the undergraduate course and the postgraduate course across medical systems and promote medical pluralism."
Therefore, it is the responsibility of statutory bodies like NMC, CCH, and CCIM to design such integrated educational modules. However, while responding to an RTI query raised by Dr. KV Babu, NMC on 26.06.2025 informed that "The third joint meeting of NMC, NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) and NCH (National Commission for Homeopathy) was earlier proposed to be held on September 23, 2024. However, due to non-availability communicated by NCISM the same could not be held and the matter regarding convening the meeting in 2025 has not yet been decided."
The RTI responses, therefore, suggested that statutory bodies like NMC, CCIM were involved in the process of starting such an MBBS-BAMS dual degree course at JIPMER.
Response from IMA:
Issuing a Press Release on Tuesday, IMA 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 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."
Further expressing concern that statutory bodies like NMC are not involved in the process, it added, "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 the 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."
Urging both the Apex Medical Commission and Union Health Ministry to intervene, IMA said, "Reports indicate that plans are afoot for setting up of an Institution for providing Integral Medical Education leading to dual degrees MBBS and BAMS at Auroville Foundation. We urge the National Medical Commission and Health Ministry to urgently look into this matter and take necessary corrective steps."
The association demanded immediate withdrawal of the "regressive proposal", adding, "We are deeply concerned about the health of our citizens owing to these developments and appeal to the nation to resist this indiscretion for the health of future generations. Let it be the choice of the patient to choose any system of medicine. Mixopathy takes away that right from the patient. We once again strongly urge the concerned authorities to refrain from producing hybrid doctors who will be only qualified quacks. IMA demands that the Government withdraw this regressive proposal in the best interest of the health of the people."
Also Read: JIPMER MBBS-BAMS Plan: Are statutory bodies being left out? RTIs reveal gaps
