Concerns Over Legitimacy of Traditional Medicine Commission
Thiruvananthapuram: Ayurveda doctors in Kerala have raised objections to a State Budget proposal aimed at promoting indigenous and traditional medicine through a new Indigenous/Traditional Medicine Commission and an Institute of Kerala Indigenous Traditional Medicine.
The Budget has allocated ₹1 crore for the initial setup, with the objective of “nourishing and preserving the knowledge and treatment methods in the indigenous/traditional medicine sector.”
Fears of Legitimizing Unauthorised Practitioners
However, organisations representing Ayurveda practitioners, such as the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI), view this move as an effort to legitimize unauthorized medical practitioners.
In a letter to government officials and elected representatives, AMAI State President C.D. Leena and General Secretary K.C. Ajith Kumar stated that introducing legislation to protect nattuchikilsa (indigenous/traditional medicine) could be an attempt to bypass existing laws and court rulings against such practices.
“The Ayush Department and the Kerala High Court have previously clarified that Ayurveda itself is India’s traditional medicine (nattuvaidyam). Establishing a separate entity for nattuchikilsa is against both the National Commission of Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, and the Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act, 2021,” they said.
Concerns Over a Parallel Medical System
The doctors argue that there is a deliberate push to position nattuvaidyam as an independent system, separate from Ayurveda. The proposed commission could function parallel to the State Council for Indian System of Medicine, which they believe would create confusion and encourage unqualified individuals to practice medicine.
They also highlight concerns that untrained individuals working in Ayurvedic shops, hospitals, or institutions are later posing as nattuvaidyans to exploit patients for financial gain. Some powerful trade unions, allegedly backed by political parties, are supporting such individuals by forming organizations for unauthorized practitioners, the doctors claim.
Fears Over Public Misinformation
At a time when social media “experts” are offering instant and often misleading medical advice, AMAI functionaries warn that the government’s move may encourage fraudsters and undermine genuine medical practitioners.
They urge the government to reconsider the proposal and strengthen Ayurveda practice instead of creating a parallel system that could mislead the public and weaken existing regulations.
