Experts warn against unscientific integration of medical systems

The Academy of Medical Specialities (AMS), the academic wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), used its annual national conference, AMSCON, to strongly reiterate the need for evidence-based healthcare, cautioning the government against “mixopathy”—the unscientific integration of medical systems—while pushing for major reforms in public health spending, medical

education and workplace safety for doctors.

IMA president Dr Dilip Bhanushali said, “Our CPR training programmes and HPV vaccination training will save countless lives. We urge the government to allocate at least 5 per cent of GDP to health to strengthen infrastructure and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure,” he said, before welcoming the abolition of GST on health insurance and life-saving drugs, thanking the Centre and the GST Council for accepting IMA’s long-standing representations.

However, IMA voiced strong reservations about Mixopathy. Former National President Dr RV Asokan criticised the proposed integrated MBBS–BAMS course at JIPMER as “an ill-conceived move”, stressing that each medical system must retain its scientific purity to ensure patient safety. He also flagged concerns over the NEET framework, calling for urgent reforms, removal of the bond system and improved working conditions for young doctors.

On the workplace safety front, the leadership reiterated the need for a strong Central Act to prevent violence against healthcare professionals.