Mumbai: Just months after protests by doctors opposing the mixing of medical practices with homeopathy, the health department has appointed a 12-member committee to expand alternative medical practices in state-run health facilities.A recent Govt Resolution (GR) stated that this committee will submit a report on the integration of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) into modern medical facilities within two months. The committee comprises mostly AYUSH practitioners alongside govt officials. It will be chaired by biologist Bhushan Patwardhan, who is affiliated with the ministry of AYUSH, and co-chaired by urologist Dr Suresh Patankar. There are no other independent MBBS doctors on the committee.The panel is expected to create protocols and guidelines for the treatment of arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health. It is also tasked with guiding the department on pilot projects to set up “integrated clinics” where patients can receive AYUSH and modern medicine under one roof.“We have written to the govt to explain what they mean by integrated services. For now, our primary objection is that there are no independent MBBS doctors from medical organisations,” said Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra state president Dr Santosh Kulkarni.In a letter addressed to Department of Medical Education, IMA stated that there is a fundamental difference between integrating different systems of medicine simultaneously during treatment and allowing different systems to function side-by-side, where practitioners stick to their respective fields.The association has demanded the inclusion of elected representatives from Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) as well as IMA members on the committee. They pointed out that any decision on scope of practice, prescribing rights, clinical responsibility, referral protocols, accountability cannot be taken without adequately qualified doctors on the committee.Furthermore, it has asked the govt to make sure that committee recommendations are based on patient safety, scientific evidence, appropriate professional qualifications and are within statutory regulatory requirements. Dr Kulkarni added, “We are waiting for clarity to frame our further response accordingly.”Meanwhile, another GR issued on Thursday has merged the medical education department and directorate of AYUSH into one single combined department.The GR states that Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) and Directorate of AYUSH will now be unified under ‘Commissionerates of Medical Education, Research and AYUSH’.“Going forward, both offices will operate under this single unified name, and all official work, websites, emails, stamps, signage, and documents are being updated immediately to reflect the change,” the GR stated.DMER commissioner Anil Bhandari remained unavailable for a comment.While doctors expressed concerns over how this could impact medical institutions, a DMER official said, “Already the commissioner is heading both AYUSH, as well as the medical education department. It is just under one umbrella now and the nomenclature has changed.”
