AMAI says NCISM directive protects the legal rights of qualified AYUSH practitioners and calls for action against defamatory campaigns targeting Ayurveda doctors.
The Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) has welcomed a circular issued by the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM), which clarifies that qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) are legally recognised medical practitioners and that referring to them as “quacks” or “fake doctors” is unlawful.
In an official statement, the AMAI State Committee described the circular as a significant step towards safeguarding the professional dignity of practitioners holding recognised qualifications such as the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). The association stated that registered practitioners authorised under the law cannot be misrepresented or defamed by using derogatory terms.
According to AMAI, the NCISM circular serves as a strong warning against individuals and organisations allegedly attempting to discredit Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicine through social media campaigns and misinformation. The association alleged that such efforts are driven by vested interests seeking to undermine the credibility and public trust in traditional healthcare systems.
The association further stated that the directive reinforces the legal recognition granted to practitioners under the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970, and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020. It maintained that publicly branding qualified and registered practitioners as “quacks” amounts to a violation of their constitutional and legal rights.
Calling the NCISM clarification a landmark development, AMAI said the circular sends a clear message that misinformation and false propaganda against recognised Indian systems of medicine will not be tolerated. The organisation also urged the concerned authorities to initiate strict legal action against individuals and organisations allegedly involved in defamatory campaigns targeting qualified AYUSH practitioners.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the interests of Ayurveda professionals, AMAI said it would continue to oppose any attempts to tarnish the image, credibility and growth of Ayurveda through legal and democratic means.
The statement was jointly issued by AMAI State President Dr. K.S. Vishnu Namboothiri and General Secretary Dr. P.K. Haridas.
