Commission for Indian Medicine says registered AYUSH doctors cannot be called ‘quacks’

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a circular clarifying that duly qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian System of Medicine, including graduates of Ayurveda (BAMS), Unani (BUMS), Siddha (BSMS), and Sowa-Rigpa (BSRMS), are legally recognised medical practitioners under the NCISM Act, 2020. 

The circular, dated July 29, 2026, states that there is no legal basis for describing such registered practitioners as “quacks” or “bogus doctors”.

The Commission said it had received reports that institutionally trained AYUSH practitioners are being subjected to harassment, defamation and false characterisation through public notices, print and electronic media, social media platforms and other public forums. It clarified that practitioners registered with the appropriate State Councils under the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970 and the NCISM Act, 2020 enjoy legal recognition and are entitled to practice within the scope permitted by law.

Any individual, institution, media organisation or authority publicly using terms such as “quacks” or “bogus doctors” for duly registered practitioners may be acting contrary to the legal recognition granted under the NCISM Act and may be infringing upon their (the duly registered practitioners’) professional and constitutional rights, according to the circular. The Commission reiterated that all qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian System of Medicine are entitled to the rights, protections, and professional respect guaranteed under law.

The latest NCISM circular reinforces the legal status of registered AYUSH practitioners and seeks to prevent their public mischaracterisation while affirming their place in India’s healthcare workforce.

The issue of recognition of AYUSH practitioners has often been debated, particularly over the use of the term “doctor” and allegations of quackery. While medical associations representing allopathic practitioners have repeatedly raised concerns over ‘cross-pathy’ and treatment beyond the authorised scope of practice, the government has consistently maintained that practitioners holding recognised AYUSH degrees and valid registration are legally recognised healthcare professionals within their respective systems of medicine.

Government data underscore the significant role played by AYUSH practitioners in India’s healthcare system. India has approximately 13.86 lakh registered allopathic doctors and 7.52 lakh registered AYUSH practitioners, according to official data. Based on these numbers and assuming 80% availability of registered practitioners, the government estimates an overall doctor-to-population ratio of 1:811, surpassing the World Health Organization’s benchmark of 1:1,000.