Question : Special Cadre of AYUSH Doctors- Practitioners

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA,YOGA AND NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to utilise the services of AYUSH doctors/ practitioners and to create a special cadre of AYUSH practitioners and paramedics for village postings to tide over the shortage of doctors in rural parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has consulted the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and asked them to come up with modalities in this regard;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the time by which AYUSH doctors/ practitioners are likely to be posted in villages to enable treatment access to the rural population?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)
(a): National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy - 2002, envisages integration of AYUSH with the Health Care Delivery System. Mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the strategies in National Health Mission (NHM) as well which seeks to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care in order to improve the existing health care delivery system.

Contd…….




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In this regard Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thus enabling choice to the patients for different systems of medicines under single window. The engagement of AYUSH Doctors / paramedics and their training is supported by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, while the support for AYUSH infrastructure, equipment / furniture and medicines are provided by Ministry of AYUSH under shared responsibilities.

However, the Government has not proposed to create a special cadre of AYUSH practitioners and paramedics for village posting to tide over the shortage of doctors in rural parts of the country.

(b) to (d): Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have been consulted on the issue of permitting the medical practitioners under the Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) system of medicines to practice allopathy treatment in a limited way and they are of the opinion that any amendment to the IMC Act, 1956 on this count would be detrimental to the cause of practicing of modern medicine. Therefore no decision has been taken in this regard.
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