IMA flags patient safety concerns over Andhra decision allowing Ayurvedic doctors to perform surgeries
The Indian Medical Association has raised patient safety concerns after the Andhra Pradesh government allowed properly trained postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors to independently perform select surgical procedures, warning that the move could dilute healthcare standards and create risks for public health.
New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed serious concern over the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to allow properly trained postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors to independently undertake select surgical procedures, warning that the move could pose risks to patient safety and dilute healthcare standards.
Andhra government decision
The reaction comes days after Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav approved a proposal permitting eligible postgraduate Ayurvedic practitioners to perform a range of surgical interventions, in line with the Indian Medicine Central Council guidelines of 2020 and the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine.
The health minister has also directed officials to introduce postgraduate courses at the Dr NRS Government Ayurvedic College in Vijayawada and strengthen infrastructure, including operation theatres and surgical equipment, to impart quality education.
IMA questions training equivalence
In a press release issued on December 25, the IMA said that while it respects all systems of medicine and acknowledges the role of Ayurveda in preventive and promotive healthcare, surgical practice requires rigorous, structured and specialised training that is integral to modern medical education.
The association said surgery involves comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, anaesthesia, emergency management and post-operative critical care—competencies that are taught in depth during MBBS and postgraduate surgical training programmes.
"Allowing practitioners without equivalent training and exposure to perform surgeries poses a serious risk to patient safety and public health,” the IMA said, adding that such decisions are not in the best interest of the people and may compromise healthcare quality.
Concerns over patient safety
The doctors’ body cautioned that instead of strengthening the healthcare system, the move could create confusion among patients, lead to legal complications and erode public trust.
Urging authorities to reconsider the policy, the IMA called for maintaining clear boundaries between different systems of medicine and strengthening healthcare infrastructure by expanding training capacity in modern medicine rather than diluting standards.