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Maharashtra government's decision to mix homoeopathy and allopathy could jeopardise lives of patients
Maharashtra government's decision to mix homoeopathy and allopathy could jeopardise lives of patients

Indian Express

time09-07-2025

  • Health
  • Indian Express

Maharashtra government's decision to mix homoeopathy and allopathy could jeopardise lives of patients

Written by T Paulose George The Maharashtra government's recent decision to allow homeopathy practitioners to prescribe allopathy medicines invites both medical and legal questions. The average citizen is unaware of the long-term implications and ill effects of this so-called reform. This is certainly not the first time a state government has attempted to blur the boundary of fundamentally different systems of medicine. In the 1980s, the Kerala government attempted to impart surgical training to Ayurveda undergraduate students which met stiff resistance from people of the state and the government backed off. The state government made another attempt in 2015 – the Kerala High Court quashed the government order. Modern medicine is governed by the NMC Act of 2019 which lays down clear standards for training and practice of allopathy. Each system of medicine – Modern, Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani – has its distinct formulary (list of medicines) regulated by the government through the Drug Controller of India. Diverse, often conflicting scientific principles underpin these different systems. Mixing and matching these dissimilar systems is fraught with danger due to unpredictable effects that can often be fatal. A new drug in modern medicine undergoes extensive scientific evaluation including safety trials in humans after completing animal and cell culture studies. Once deemed safe, the next step is to study the desired effect and side effects. This is followed by large, randomised controlled trials involving a large number of participants to see if the drug is beneficial and if the risks do not outweigh the benefits. All this is published in scientific journals allowing scientists and specialist doctors around the world to scrutinise independently and only then the drug enters the formulary in India. The undergraduate training in modern medicine regulated by NMC includes basic science and research methodology. The student is also given skills to interpret the results of research in addition to studying pharmacology over the four-and-a-half-year course. Basic pharmacology theory itself is taught over a year and applied pharmacology is taught over three years as well as during the year of compulsory internship. Believing a six-month certificate course for homeopathy doctors will equip them to prescribe medicines from modern medicine formulary is like living in a fantasy world. To ensure minimum standards, quality and safe clinical practice, the Government of India has introduced the National Exit Exam, starting this year for all medical graduates after completing undergraduate training in their respective system. This applies to all medical graduates from India and abroad to get mandatory registration to practice in their chosen field, speciality and sub-speciality. On the one hand, the Centre is trying to drive up the standards and on the other hand, the Maharashtra government is working against those core values. Citizens of Maharashtra should use the fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and get this legally and medically unsound proposal quashed because human lives could be jeopardised by untrained homoeopathic practitioners practising outside their field of training. Homeopathy doctors should confine clinical practice to their system based on their undergraduate training. Patients do have a right to make informed choices regarding which system of medicine they would like treatment and for this reason, different systems should maintain their purity. Modern medicine doctors also have a duty to educate the unsuspecting people on the dangers of the Maharashtra government's new decree. The modern medical community and pharmacists should mount a legal challenge through their professional organisations if all else fails – we are duty bound to protect our patients. The writer is a retired consultant gastroenterologist

Who's a doctor anyway? Vidit Gujrathi, The Liver Doc slug it out
Who's a doctor anyway? Vidit Gujrathi, The Liver Doc slug it out

India Today

time04-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • India Today

Who's a doctor anyway? Vidit Gujrathi, The Liver Doc slug it out

In India, the question of who qualifies as a doctor is one that chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, have been actively dissecting and bisecting on X since July 2. While people weighed in on both sides, a section of users questioned if the post, meant to celebrate doctors in the family, should at all have sparked the debate in the first all began with a post shared by Vidit Gujrathi on July 1, featuring a picture of his family as he wished them on National Doctors' Day. 'Happy Doctors' Day to my entire family,' Gujrathi wrote in his post on X, along with a selfie he had taken with his parents, sister, and users asked about their specialisations, to which Gujrathi replied: 'My father is an Ayurvedic Migraine specialist, wife is MD, Homeopathy, mom does Cosmetology and sister is a physiotherapist.' It was all good till one tweet from The Liver Doc changed the tone of the conversation entirely.'I am sorry but none of them are really doctors,' he wrote bluntly, triggering a cascade of reactions and a heated exchange with the hit back, defending his family's qualifications and sacrifices, saying they were 'certified doctors' who had dedicated their lives to supporting him and helping later deleted the original post but clapped back by sharing screenshots of his interaction with The Liver Doc, accusing him of chasing clout by 'tearing people down' and insisting that his family had "quietly healed lives without needing a spotlight.' His response triggered a massive statement from The Liver Doc - a hepatologist himself - who insisted that he did not mean to offend Gujrathi's family but was just 'stating plain facts from a professional standpoint'.Without 'mincing his words', The Liver Doc insisted: 'Your statement on Doctors Day claiming an Ayurveda practitioner, Homeopath, Cosmetologist and a Physiotherapist were doctors is wrong and I stand by my words.''Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Cosmetology or Physiotherapy are not realistic clinical medicine or and their practitioners are not clinical physicians. Physiotherapy is a legit branch of healthcare (adjunct to clinical medicine), but the rest are just plain sham - especially Homeopathy, which is also known as N*zi Medicine because H*tler tried to integrate it with conventional medicine at the time,' he who is legally a doctor in India?advertisementIn India, the title of "doctor" is not exclusive to allopathic (MBBS) practitioners. Under the Ministry of AYUSH, which oversees Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, practitioners with BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) and BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) degrees are legally recognised as "doctors" and can prefix 'Dr' to their are registered under separate councils such as the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH), distinct from the Medical Council of India (now the National Medical Commission, NMC), which regulates allopathic medicine and its contention arises with respect to their practice. While AYUSH doctors can legally practice in their respective systems, they are not recognised as allopathic or clinical physicians and cannot prescribe allopathic medicines – a boundary that often blurs in meanwhile, are not classified as doctors in the strict medical sense but are highly trained rehabilitation specialists in the healthcare system. Cosmetologists may or may not be doctors, depending on whether they hold a medical to The Liver Doc's post about Gujrathi's family, he just didn't stop at the classifications but continued that the grandmaster's 'claim' about his family 'has major public health consequences, because someone of your stature, being ignorant about science and health affects public perception of realistic healthcare and pseudoscientific practices.'Read The Liver Doc's entire response to Gujarathi here:While The Liver Doc's argument is rooted in medical accuracy, critics argued that his timing lacked empathy and that his fight should be against the concerned authorities and not the grandmaster in particular.'Even if The Liver Doc had a valid point, this wasn't the time or place to make that point. Vidit was just showing love to his parents on Doctor's Day, the people who've supported him through thick and thin. His post wasn't harming anyone. Sometimes it's better to understand the moment and let people be,' a user Liver Doc's 'sole intention is to mock/undermine and humiliate continuously, and there is a pattern,' a user said, referencing his constant heated exchanges with several The Liver Doc is right in debating who should be called a doctor, it should be the government, and not a chess grandmaster celebrating a family moment, that his questions should be directed debate has triggered a significant conversation, not just about who qualifies as a doctor, but also about the need for nuance, respect, and timing in an increasingly online world where lines between personal and professional are constantly tested.- Ends

"Brand Built On Insulting Others": LiverDoc, Indian Grand Master Vidit Gujrathi Clash On X
"Brand Built On Insulting Others": LiverDoc, Indian Grand Master Vidit Gujrathi Clash On X

NDTV

time04-07-2025

  • Health
  • NDTV

"Brand Built On Insulting Others": LiverDoc, Indian Grand Master Vidit Gujrathi Clash On X

Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, who goes by the name of "LiverDoc" on X (formerly Twitter), has developed a reputation on social media for taking up strong stands against 'medical misinformation and pseudoscience'. A hepatologist by profession, LiverDoc has often riled people up with his direct attacks on Ayurveda and Homeopathy, as well as those practicing it. As he did the same yet with a post on Indian Grand Master Vidit Gujrathi's family, a war of words erupted on the internet. It all started when Vidit took to social media and shared a picture of his family with he caption, "Happy Doctor's Day to my entire family". A user asked the Chess GM about the qualifications of the members in the photo. Vidit then said: "My father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, wife is MD Homeopathy, mom does cosmetology and sister is a physiotherapist. LiverDoc, who is often known to take a stand against Ayurveda and Homeopathy as 'medical treatments', responded saying "I am sorry but none of them are really doctors." Vidit, understandably, wasn't happy seeing his family's qualifications and contributions being questioned on the public platform. He said: "My parents are certified doctors who sacrificed thriving careers to travel with me and shape my journey. They rebuilt themselves, found new ways to heal, and continue helping others with quiet dignity. You don't have to agree with them. But you don't get to dismiss them." In a lengthy post, in reply to the Indian GM's post, LiverDoc said: "Hello, Vidit. I am not a fan of chess, but you are an important person for our country and I did not mean to offend your family. I am sure they are good people. I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or whatever, to console yourself, no problem. Hello, Vidit. I am not a fan of chess, but you are an important person for our country and I did not mean to offend your family. I am sure they are good people. I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or… — TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) July 3, 2025 "Your statement on Doctors Day claiming an Ayurveda practitioner, Homeopath, Cosmetologist and a Physiotherapist were doctors is wrong and I stand by my words. Doctors' Day in India marks both the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India's most revered physicians and a key figure in shaping the healthcare system. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Cosmetology or Physiotherapy are not realistic clinical medicine or and their practitioners are not clinical physicians. Physiotherapy is a legit branch of healthcare (adjunct to clinical medicine), but the rest are just plain sham - especially Homeopathy, which is also known as N*zi Medicine because H*tler tried to integrate it with conventional medicine at the time. "You got all worked up and started personally attacking me because you were ignorant of this fact. I do not need to keep an ego towards a chess GM or his family. You don't make me insecure and your family is of no concern to me from a professional standpoint." "I am staying in my lane and always have. Calling out medical misinformation is what I do apart from being a full-time doctor. I suggest you stay in your lane and discuss more on chess. Sorry for the checkmate. And for a change, talk about chess and try being useful. All the best for your future matches." Vidit also decided to respond to the doctor, saying: "I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in. If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it. You and trolls like you don't get to decide who's a doctor. You have no authority to define others lives or dismiss their work. I've said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise." I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in. If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it. You and trolls like you don't get to decide who's a… — Vidit Gujrathi (@viditchess) July 3, 2025 Further responding to Vidit's post, the LiverDoc said: "Dear friends, good morning. A life update. Even though it was short but sweet, I have decided to quit playing chess on social media with science illiterates and is determined on being "useful" as a clinical doctor. "You and trolls like you don't get to decide who's a doctor."

AYUSH wellness centres to come up in every UP district: CM
AYUSH wellness centres to come up in every UP district: CM

Hindustan Times

time01-07-2025

  • Health
  • Hindustan Times

AYUSH wellness centres to come up in every UP district: CM

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that following the establishment of Uttar Pradesh's first AYUSH University in Gorakhpur, the Uttar Pradesh government will now set up at least one 100-bed AYUSH health and wellness centre in every district. The CM made the announcement while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Uttar Pradesh's first AYUSH University—Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University. (HT file) These centres will offer key treatments such as Panchakarma and Ksharasutra. In addition, the state government has decided to open one AYUSH college at each of the six divisional headquarters that are currently without such facilities. The CM made the announcement while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Uttar Pradesh's first AYUSH University—Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University. Welcoming President Droupadi Murmu, the chief guest, and governor Anandiben Patel, the special guest of honour, Yogi stated that both the central and state governments are continuously working to ensure holistic health for all. Prior to 2014, India's traditional systems of medicine had not gained global recognition. After taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the Ministry of AYUSH, integrating Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Siddha, and gave traditional medicine a national platform, he said. The CM said the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University is a result of PM Modi's vision for comprehensive wellness. With the inauguration complete, the university will now move forward with its admission process. It will offer medical services across various traditional systems including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy and Siddha. The university will also emerge as a major centre for research and development in the AYUSH sector. Yogi highlighted that the university will play a significant role in providing employment opportunities to both farmers and youths. Through this institution, cultivation of medicinal plants will become a viable source of income. He said the university will also be instrumental in promoting traditional medicine as a new form of health tourism. The CM expressed confidence that the university will emerge as a premier destination for health tourism in the future. During his address at the inauguration ceremony, Yogi also spoke about the connection between Ayurveda and the Nath tradition. He explained that Rasashastra and metallurgical sciences in Ayurveda are linked to the legacy of the Navnath and 84 Siddhas. The credit for systematically organising these disciplines, he said, goes to Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath.

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