The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to the State government to stop hiring ayurveda doctors and appoint MBBS doctors in wellness centres on a permanent basis.

Under Ayushman Bharat, primary health centres will be upgraded to health and wellness centres, and the State government has permitted ayurveda doctors to practice allopathy at these centres after undergoing a six-month course in modern medicine.

In a statement released on Monday, IMA’s national president Dr. Santanu Sen said that they resist the promotion of crosspathy. Dr. Sen said, “Health and wellness centres are sub-centres providing preventive health care, vaccinations, ante-natal care, child health and a multitude of other health care services. They should not be made into mix-pathy dispensaries manned by half-baked quacks.”

Crosspathy, mix-pathy are terms used for Ayurveda, homeopathy or Unani practitioners who prescribe allopathy medicines. The IMA has been opposing the bridge course. designed for such alternative medicine practitioners to get into modern medicine practice.

Dr. Jayesh Lele of IMA, Maharashtra, said, “The government is giving validation by employing the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery [BAMS] students at the health and wellness centres to practice allopathy. This is unacceptable.”

Over 1,200 BAMS students are studying the course in Maharashtra. When the first batch graduates in March-end, they will be hired in the health and wellness centres. Dr. R.V. Asokan, honorary secretary general, IMA, said, “Quality primary care from competent doctors of modern medicine is a right of the people. Who will be responsible for the havoc wrought by such laypersons?”