JOIN US The high court on Thursday ordered notice to the state government and the Health department in a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association, Karnataka, seeking direction to quash the order appointing Ayush doctors in primary health centres (PHCs).
The petitioners have sought directions to quash the order dated January 5, in which the government has authorised doctors practising the Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (Ayush) systems of medicine at the PHCs to practise, prescribe and administer allopathic medicines (modern medicines).
They are authorised to treat patients during emergency as well as while implementing the Shishu Raksha and other programmes by just undergoing a six-month training.
The petitioners have contended that if these Ayush doctors continue to treat the patients, the very purpose of prescribing qualifications for modern scientific medicine under the Medical Council of India regulations will be defeated.
Any person after undergoing the necessary training, without the essential qualification, will start to administer allopathic drugs during emergency, jeopardising the health of the patients, they said. Justice A S Bopanna directed the government to file its objections in two weeks.