The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a pan-India relay hunger strike of doctors, which will start from February 1, in protest against a notification issued by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) that will allow postgraduate practitioners of Ayurveda to perform general surgical procedures, including 58 types of surgical procedures. This sort of medicine has been given the name “mixopathy”.
“We object to the mixing of streams as it is unsafe and unscientific. People should have a right to choose the stream for getting treated by any system of medicine from qualified doctors of that system,” says the statement by the IMA.
The IMA has given directions to all its members across the country to launch the “Save Healthcare India Movement”, the statement informed. Doctors will take turns to sit on a 24-hour hunger strike from February 1. The IMA will release posters and banners for awareness across the country.
“All IMA members shall update their Members of Parliament and MLAs regarding the true picture of the notification and integration policy. IMA will also give its representations to all state governments. Under this Save People Movement, all NGOs will be updated on the core issues. Representatives of the IMA shall visit the various places across the country for public awareness,” the statement added.
Besides these efforts, the IMA will also write to the Prime Minister and convey its feelings, the association said.