The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, has announced the initiation of India's first integrated MBBS-BAMS dual degree program. This pioneering course aims to amalgamate modern allopathic medicine with traditional Ayurvedic practices, fostering a comprehensive approach to healthcare education.
The integrated program is designed to provide students with a robust understanding of both allopathic and Ayurvedic medical systems. By combining the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), JIPMER seeks to produce medical professionals proficient in both disciplines. This initiative aligns with the growing global interest in integrative medicine, where conventional and traditional practices are utilized complementarily.
The primary goal of this program is to equip future healthcare providers with a dual perspective on patient care. Students will gain insights into the diagnostic and therapeutic techniques of both medical systems, enabling them to offer holistic treatment plans. The curriculum is structured to ensure a balanced emphasis on biomedical sciences and Ayurvedic principles, promoting a synergistic understanding of health and disease.
While specific details regarding the duration and curriculum structure are yet to be disclosed, the program is expected to span a comprehensive timeframe to cover the extensive content of both degrees. The course will be conducted under the guidance of experienced faculty from both modern medicine and Ayurveda, ensuring an integrated learning experience.
Announcing the reopening of the Emergency and Trauma Care Centre at JIPMER, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH (Independent Charge), Prataprao Jadhav told The New Indian Express:
The Union government is planning to introduce a new integrated medical course combining MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery). The course is currently at the conceptual stage, and efforts are underway to frame a new syllabus.Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH (Independent Charge)
However, the announcement has sparked concern and debate among medical professionals who question the practicality and safety of integrating two fundamentally different medical systems. Critics argue that without clear scientific validation or an established framework, the integration could potentially compromise patient care and confuse future practitioners.
Myxopathy will lead to more harm to Ayurveda - this is my take on this issue. The Union govt of India has announced that a combines course of MBBS + BAMS will be started from JIPMER, Puducherry. What a classical stupidity!! This kind of "Khichri medicine" is not going to do any good to public as well as those who want to resurrect Ayuveda. The need is to scrutinize and analyze Ayurveda on modern scientific parameters. In essence, we need to update Ayurveda and for that R & D is required.Dr. Munish Raizada, MD, FAAP
We’re talking about training students in two completely different systems, with fundamentally different principles—doshas vs. germ theory, Triphala vs. antibiotics, Prakriti vs. physiology. What happens when these students land in an ICU? Do they reach for Noradrenaline... or Ashwagandha?Dr. Sneha Patil, MD Community Medicine
JIPMER has announced an Integrative Medicine course, and that may be the final nail in the coffin of medical education. For the first time, Indian medical education is being asked to blend germ theory with dosha siddhanta, antibiotics with Triphala, physiology with Prakriti. There’s no clarity on the curriculum. No roadmap for postgraduate training. No proof that this even works. But have you thought about its implications? We are not creating better doctors. We are creating more confusion. And in medicine, doubt can be deadly. Do we really need that integration?Dr. Rahul Chawla, DM Neurology, MD Internal Medicine
The introduction of the integrated MBBS-BAMS program by JIPMER is a bold step that reflects a broader push towards incorporating traditional knowledge systems into mainstream healthcare. While the vision promotes holistic and inclusive medical education, it also opens up critical questions around curriculum design, scientific validation, clinical safety, and long-term outcomes.
Striking a balance between innovation and evidence-based practice will be key. As India explores new paradigms in healthcare education, experts suggest that meaningful dialogue between modern and traditional medicine stakeholders is essential to ensure that patient care remains uncompromised and that the next generation of doctors are trained with both clarity and competence.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM)