IMD members also cautioned that cross-practice without equivalent training and accreditation is neither evidence-based nor ethically justified. Photo: ima-india.org/ima/
After Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav approved trained Ayurvedic doctors to perform surgeries independently earlier this week, the A.P. branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly condemned the move, calling it misleading and against scientific principles, and fearing it would put patient safety at risk.
On December 23, 2025, the Minister gave his nod for Ayurverdic doctors, who completed PG courses in surgical studies, to perform select surgeries, and called this a step in the direction of integrating Indian traditional medicine with modern treatment methods.
In a press note, the IMA opposed the move and said surgical procedures demand structured, supervised and extensive training that is exclusively imparted through the MBBS and MS(Master of Surgery)/MCh (Megister Chirurgiae) curricula governed by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
It warned that any deviation from these standards places patient safety at serious risk.
Surgery is not just a technical skill but a complex discipline requiring in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, perioperative critical care, anaesthesia, and complication management, all of which are part of a training that is standardised and validated only within modern medicine, the IMA explained. The members also cautioned that cross-practice without equivalent training and accreditation is neither evidence-based nor ethically justified.
The IMA members also pointed out that the issue of permitting Indian medicine practitioners to perform surgeries is sub judice before the Supreme Court. The case, filed in 2020, is listed for hearing on January 8, 2026.
When the matter is pending in the court, statements or policy decisions concerning allowing Ayurvedic doctors to perform surgeries are legally untenable and amount to prejudging a matter under judicial consideration, the IMA said.
The IMA has requested the Minister to withdraw these statements and to not make any policy commitments that violate existing laws and the Supreme Court proceedings. They said if the issue is not addressed immediately, they would have no other option but to pursue appropriate democratic and legal remedies at the State and national levels.
Published – December 28, 2025 04:52 pm IST
