Manipur doctors against ‘mixopathy’; Organise cycle rally to protest

Doctors in Manipur on Saturday carried out a cycle rally as a part of Indian Medical Association (IMA)’s continuing protest against the Centre’s decision to allow Ayurvedic practitioners to perform medical surgeries.

Doctors on Pedals (DOP), the cycling wing of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Manipur State Branch, organised the cycle rally in and around Imphal to create awareness among the general public about the future implications and dangers of ‘mixopathy’.

IMA is undergoing a mass 14 days nationwide relay hunger strike and dharna since February 1 last seeking withdrawal of the recent government gazette notification by CCIM (Central Council of Indian Medicine) which allows for Ayurveda doctors to practice 48 different types of surgeries. The notification allows Ayurveda doctors to undergo surgeries like amputation, cataract, cholecystectomy, tonsillectomy and various complicated surgeries after undergoing two years of training at specific Ayurveda hospitals and awarded the degree of MS (Tantra Shayla). IMA is strongly resisting this move of “mixopathy” while alleging that it will spell doom for both Ayurveda and Allopathy streams of medicine. 

IMA has been urging the Central government to support research and other means to develop Ayurveda in its own way and keep the 3000 years old Indian medicine system advanced and relevant to the modern times. IMA further demanded to increase facilities and seats for training of modern surgery to overcome the manpower shortage instead of promoting ‘mixopathy’.

Also read: Manipur doctors stage hunger strike in support of Indian Medical Association’s protest against ‘mixopathy’

Today’s cycle rally was flagged off by Dr N Jitendra, senior member of IMA and IMA member doctors and students from RIMS, JNIMS and private hospitals took part in the rally.

IMA Manipur has been demonstrating against ‘mixopathy’ since February 1 last joining the nationwide protest.

During the period, sit-in-protests were staged at IMA office, Shija hospital, Imphal hospital, Babina diagnostics, Maipakpi hospitals and RIMS hospital in Imphal and Jivan hospitals in Thoubal district.

The protests will end on February 14 (tomorrow).