Published: Sunday, Aug 26, 2012, 16:47 IST
By Alifiya Khan | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA
By Alifiya Khan | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA
An expert committee set up by the state government to design a new
short term course to train non-allopathic doctors in pharmacology in
order to enable them to dispense allopathic drugs has submitted its
recommendations this week.
Last month, state medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit had
announced in the state assembly that homeopathic, ayurvedic and unani
doctors will be allowed to dispense allopathic medicines if they
complete a short course in pharmacology. To design this course, the
expert committee was set up with members of ayurvedic and homeopathic
councils, director of ayurveda from the state, members from Directorate
of Medical Education and Research as well as members of Maharashtra
University of Health Sciences (MUHS).
“We submitted the
recommendations three days ago to start a 300-hour weekend course. The
cost would be around Rs60,000 for qualified non-allopathic doctors and
it would be offered at 10 medical colleges under MUHS. We have proposed a
150-hour theory and 150-hour practical course,” said Dr Mandar Ranade,
all India joint secretary of National Integrated Medical Association,
who was a part of the committee.
However, he added that the course
is recommended only for homeopathic doctors since ayurvedic and unani
doctors study pharmacology in their courses and hence should be
exempted.
Ranade said besides starting the course, it was
suggested that the government also make relevant changes in Maharashtra
Medical Practioners Act, 1961 in order to allow non-allopathic doctors
practice modern medicine.
“This is necessary for legal safeguards
of trained non-allopathic doctors who are harassed as quacks or doing
illegal cross practice. The committee has recommended that the
government should issue a separate resolution clarifying what surgeries
can be done by non-allopathic doctors,” added Ranade.
Maharashtra has the highest number of ayurveda and homeopathic colleges.
As
compared to 90,000 allopaths, there are 80,000 ayurvedic, 58,000
homeopathic and 5,000 unani doctors practising in the state. Most of the
healthcare in rural areas and even government hospitals is dependent on
non-allopathic doctor.
“We cannot deny the important role they
play in rural areas where practioners of modern medicine do not
practice. Hence, it is important to equip them with right skills,” said
Dr Arun Jamkar, vice-chancellor, MUHS.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/
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