The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly opposed the integration of alternative medicine systems with modern medical practice. Addressing the installation ceremony of IMA's new officers in Dehradun, the association's newly appointed president Dr Dilip Bhanushali termed mixopathy as a "danger" and outlined the potential dangers of mixing different medical disciplines.
We are not against ayurveda, homeopathy, or other sciences. Let them practice their respective systems. What we oppose is mixing them, as it leads to results that are not helpful.Dr Dilip Bhanushali, President of IMA (newly appointed)
What is Mixopathy?
Mixopathy refers to the practice of combining alternative medicine systems such as Ayurveda, homeopathy, or Unani with modern allopathic medicine. While the idea may seem innovative, the IMA argues that it poses significant risks to patients and undermines the integrity of evidence-based medicine.
Dr. Bhanushali emphasized several important issues associated with mixopathy:
Violation of Supreme Court Guidelines:
According to Dr. Bhanushali, 80% of alternative practitioners continue to prescribe modern medicine despite the Supreme Court directive banning such practices.
Danger of Quackery:
The IMA president warned that promoting mixopathy could encourage unqualified practitioners to prescribe treatments such as high-dose steroids or antibiotics without understanding their potential side effects. This can lead to harm to patients who are unaware of the risks.
Inadequate training:
Highlighting the intensive training of modern surgeons (typically 8-10 years), Dr. Bhanushali questioned how short-term training could adequately prepare alternative medicine practitioners to perform complex medical procedures.
Impact on patient safety:
The IMA believes that allowing practitioners of alternative systems to take over the functions of allopathic professionals may compromise the quality of care and lead to poor outcomes.
How can you simply train ayurveda, homeopathy or Unani doctors for one year and allow them to perform duties equivalent to a surgeon? Will they do justice to their patients?Dr Dilip Bhanushali, President of IMA (newly appointed)
Dr. Bhanushali clarified that the IMA is not in principle opposed to alternative medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy, or Unani. Instead, the association advocates for these disciplines to operate independently while respecting their unique methodologies and philosophies.
"Let them follow their own system," said Dr. Bhanushali. "What we oppose is mixing them up, because that leads to results that are not helpful."
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)