Dehradun: Indian Medical Association (IMA) is against the integration of alternative medicine systems with modern medicine, said Dr Dilip Bhanushali, the newly appointed president of IMA, during the installation ceremony of the medical body’s fresh office bearers in Dehradun on Saturday.
Bhanushali described the practice of mixopathy as a “menace”, emphasising that “80% of alternative practitioners continue to prescribe modern medicines despite a Supreme Court directive prohibiting such practices”. He said: “We are not against ayurveda, homeopathy, or other sciences. Let them practice their respective systems. What we oppose is mixing them, as it leads to results that are not helpful.”
Bhanushali further warned that promotion of mixopathy would promote quackery. “Practitioners who lack formal training in modern medicine might prescribe harmful treatments, including high-dose steroids and antibiotics, to patients who are unaware of their potential side effects,” he said.
Highlighting the rigorous training modern surgeons undergo, spanning eight to 10 years, Bhanushali questioned how short-term training could equip practitioners of ayurveda or homeopathy to perform complex medical procedures. “How can you simply train ayurveda, homeopathy or Unani doctors for one year and allow them to perform duties equivalent to a surgeon? Will they do justice to their patients?” he said.
