Independent status for acupuncture leaves medicos irked
Rajiv G | TNN | Updated: Feb 23, 2019, 12:06 ISTTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union health and family welfare ministry has decided to recognise acupuncture as a system of healthcare and therapy. But the decision hasn’t gone down well with practitioners of modern medicine and ayurveda who claim that “it is not a scientificallyproven therapy and it would lead to quackery”.
Acupuncture, already recognized to be practised as a mode of therapy, can be accepted as an independent system of healthcare for the indications for which there is evidence and expertise exists for teaching, training and certification, says the order issued on Thursday.
“By issuing such an order, many people claimed to be trained persons in this field will start treating patients. This carries a risk element since they are not registered practitioners and hence it would lead to widespread quackery. We suggest that acupuncture should be brought under an existing system of medicine,” said Dr Sadath Dinakra R, general secretary, Ayurveda Medical Association of India.
The health ministry has decided to constitute expert committees for the promotion and regulation of acupuncture as a system of healthcare. But, this is not acceptable for the Indian Medical Association. (IMA) . “We don’t consider this as a treatment mode with any scientific base. This is nothing but a back door entry,” said Dr N Sulphi, state secretary of IMA.
Health activist Dr Babu K V said the government order lacked the approval of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). “Earlier, ICMR, after study, had recommended the Centre that acupuncture cannot be granted independent status and recommended practice of acupuncture by qualified registered medical practitioners who successfully completed recognized courses. To be an independent system of medicine, one of the criteria is that it should have its own pharmacopoeia. Does acupuncture have its own pharmacopoeia?” Dr Babu asked.
All India Acupuncture Healer’s Federation has welcomed the decision.
Acupuncture, already recognized to be practised as a mode of therapy, can be accepted as an independent system of healthcare for the indications for which there is evidence and expertise exists for teaching, training and certification, says the order issued on Thursday.
“By issuing such an order, many people claimed to be trained persons in this field will start treating patients. This carries a risk element since they are not registered practitioners and hence it would lead to widespread quackery. We suggest that acupuncture should be brought under an existing system of medicine,” said Dr Sadath Dinakra R, general secretary, Ayurveda Medical Association of India.
The health ministry has decided to constitute expert committees for the promotion and regulation of acupuncture as a system of healthcare. But, this is not acceptable for the Indian Medical Association. (IMA) . “We don’t consider this as a treatment mode with any scientific base. This is nothing but a back door entry,” said Dr N Sulphi, state secretary of IMA.
Health activist Dr Babu K V said the government order lacked the approval of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). “Earlier, ICMR, after study, had recommended the Centre that acupuncture cannot be granted independent status and recommended practice of acupuncture by qualified registered medical practitioners who successfully completed recognized courses. To be an independent system of medicine, one of the criteria is that it should have its own pharmacopoeia. Does acupuncture have its own pharmacopoeia?” Dr Babu asked.
All India Acupuncture Healer’s Federation has welcomed the decision.
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