Move to create an 'integrated doctor' by 2030 will backfire: IMA President

In an interview with Ritwik Sharma, IMA National President Rajan Sharma says that allowing postgraduate ayurveda practitioners to perform surgical procedures will harm ayurveda and health care

Doctors in India went on a strike on Friday, joining the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) call for withdrawal of non-essential services between 6am and 6pm, to protest against the Centre’s notification last month allowing postgraduate ayurveda practitioners to be trained in performing 58 surgical procedures. In an interview with Ritwik Sharma, IMA National President Rajan Sharma says that the move will only end up harming ayurveda and health care in the country. Excerpts:

Do you sense any shift in focus from modern to traditional medicine resulting from the government notification?

It is not a shift in focus, but a dangerous mixing of