Medical Boundaries for Ayurveda Practitioners in India

• Bhore Committee advocated for modern scientific medicine in 1946.

• Committee on Indigenous Systems of Medicine established in 1948.

• Indira Gandhi government enacted The Indian Medicine Central Council Act in 1970.

• Ayurvedic practitioners demand right to prescribe modern medicines.

• Interpretation of Rule 2(ee) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, defining “registered medical practitioners.”

• Supreme Court’s 1998 judgment in Dr. Mukhtiar Chand & Ors vs The State Of Punjab & Ors concluded Ayurvedic practitioners had no right to prescribe modern medicine.

• Challenges include lower pay for BAMS graduates and pending constitutionality of a 2020 notification allowing minor surgeries.

• Political factors include “Hindu pride” and Indian National Congress’s support for public health approach.