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Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Civil Rights Groups Condemn Religious Bias by Puttur IMA, Call for Action to Safeguard Communal Harmony in Coastal Karnataka
Mangaluru: In a strongly worded condemnation, civil society organisations and secular groups from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have criticised the Puttur unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for what they described as "religiously biased and politically motivated" actions, allegedly influenced by right-wing groups. The criticism was voiced during a joint meeting held at a private hotel in Mulki on Thursday, where participants resolved to initiate legal and public mobilisation efforts to counter growing communal polarisation in coastal Karnataka. The meeting was convened in the backdrop of a recent controversy involving a government doctor from Puttur, who reportedly engaged in a verbal dispute with a Muslim family. The IMA Puttur unit allegedly supported the doctor and joined a protest alongside members of right-wing organisations. Speakers at the meeting expressed concern that the IMA's involvement in such protests, including alleged hate speech targeting the Muslim community, reveals a disturbing communal orientation within a professional body expected to uphold neutrality. Participants also criticised the defamation case filed against journalist AbduSalaam Putthige and activist Muneer Katipalla for raising concerns over the incident. 'This amounts to an attempt to suppress democratic voices and is a blemish on the medical profession itself,' the groups stated in a joint resolution. A protest meeting is now planned for the second week of June in Mangaluru, where a formal demand will be submitted to the government seeking an impartial probe into the conduct of the IMA Puttur unit and those involved. The meeting further addressed the broader rise in communal tensions in the region, pointing to a series of recent hate speeches and politically motivated murders allegedly linked to Hindutva groups and supported by some BJP legislators. Speakers argued that the state government's 'soft approach' towards communal violence has deepened mistrust between communities, undermined law and order, and harmed Karnataka's tradition of religious coexistence. In response, the gathering called for unity among progressive, secular, and people-centric organisations, regardless of ideological differences. A series of mass awareness campaigns and outreach programmes will be launched in the coming months, once the situation stabilises, to rebuild trust and promote harmony. The meeting was chaired by Amrith Shenoy, coordinator of Sahabalve Udupi. Among the key participants were CPI(M) state secretariat member K. Yadava Shetty, CPI district secretary B. Shekhar, Congress spokesperson M.G. Hegde, senior advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, Dalit and tribal rights leaders M. Devadas and Dr. Krishnappa Konchady, DYFI representatives, former Mangaluru Mayor K. Ashraf, and various office bearers from the Muslim Federation of Udupi and Mangaluru. Activist Manjula Nayak of Samarasya Mangaluru and several leaders from labour and student movements also attended. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to protect the coastal region's pluralistic ethos and confront communal politics through lawful and democratic means.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
IMA opposes proposed integrated MBBS-BAMS course, calls it unscientific
The Indian Medical Association on Friday (May 30, 2025) condemned the proposed introduction of an integrated course combining MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) and BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) programmes at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. Calling the move 'unfortunate', it said this 'unscientific mixing of various systems of medicines will not benefit doctors or patients''. The Central government had earlier announced plans to integrate modern and Ayurvedic medicine under one academic curriculum, with a new integrated medical programme expected to be launched at the premier healthcare institute in Puducherry. 'It is unfortunate that the Union government seems to have decided to go ahead with its plans to unscientifically mix systems of medicine. Reports indicate that the first integrative course mixing MBBS and BAMS would be started in the premier institution of JIPMER, Pondicherry,' said the IMA in a statement. The MBBS is the foundational undergraduate medical degree that prepares students to practice as physicians and surgeons. It typically takes five and a half years to complete and includes a year of mandatory internship. The BAMS, on the other hand, is a degree focused on Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. The BAMS too is a five-and-a-half-year programme and requires four and a half years of academic study and a one-year mandatory internship. The MBBS and BAMS are currently offered in India as two separate degree programmes. The IMA said it had pointed out several times that mixing of 'incompatible systems' was an 'irreversible catastrophe'. It appealed to qualified Ayurvedic physicians to defend their system, warning that 'mixopathy takes away the right of the patient to choose care of his/her choice'. 'Let all systems retain their pristine purity. Refrain from producing hybrid doctors who will be only qualified quacks,'' said the IMA, adding that the misadventure will set back healthcare by a century. It further said India is the 'frontier of medicine today' and infrastructure and expertise exist to undertake any medical intervention at a fraction of the cost elsewhere. 'Indian doctors are the backbone of medical services in several western countries. IMA fails to see any compelling reason or logic in the ill-advised government move,'' it said. The IMA added there are reasons to believe that this move would be catastrophic to Ayurveda as well. 'Having failed to convince the government, IMA has no option but to take the people into confidence. IMA appeals to the nation to resist this indiscretion for the health of future generations,'' the members said. It said India has seen life expectancy grow from 32 years in 1947 to 70.8 years in 2025 and this has been possible because of eradication of diseases like smallpox and neonatal tetanus by vaccines and access to modern maternal and child healthcare, while highlighting the positive role of antibiotics and other modern drugs in treating diseases like tuberculosis, plague, cholera and typhoid. It stated that advances in cancer care, advent of insulin and other drugs for diabetes and hypertension, as well as huge strides in managing heart diseases and stroke have a significant role in enhancing the healthcare ecosystem. The association also cited mixing of medicine systems in China and said the move had failed there. 'China failed in its experiment of mixing modern medicine and Chinese traditional medicine; this also resulted in decimation of their traditional medicine. India has a robust chain of hospitals and public health services with 779 medical colleges and 1,36,325 MBBS doctors per year. We should not give away that advantage that our robust medical education system has created,'' the statement said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Exempt small hospitals from CEA: Indian Medical Association to government
Hyderabad: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana, on Tuesday requested the health department to exempt hospitals with less than 50 beds from the provisions of the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA), rationalise MBBS/PG seats and create more govt posts to end unemployment in the medical fraternity. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a letter addressed to the health dept officials, IMA listed these and several other pressing issues faced by the medical community in the state, particularly the private practitioners and small and medium healthcare establishments. According to the IMA members, instances of violence against doctors were on the rise with inadequate legal protection. They requested an amendment to the law by increasing the imprisonment from three years to seven years, making it a non-bailable offence. The IMA also stated that the provisions of the CEA were adversely affecting small hospitals and clinics. They asked for an exemption for hospitals with fewer than 50 beds from CEA regulations, noting that states such as Haryana and Bihar provide such exemptions. According to the IMA, unemployment was prevailing in the medical fraternity due to an increase in medical colleges. They appealed to rationalise the intake of MBBS/PG seats and called for more govt job recruitments to fill the deficit. The association also urged the introduction of a single-window system for hospital registrations, renewals, and licences; exemption for medical establishments from the stay on trade licence enforcement; the formation of a health commission; and the need for legal and physical safety training for doctors and others.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Need to remain vigilant, follow all Covid safety guidelines: Haryana health minister
Chandigarh: Haryana health minister Arti Singh Rao on Wednesday urged the public and healthcare officials to remain vigilant and proactive about the spread of Covid-19 infections. She emphasized that public health and safety is the government's top priority. Rao also said timely action and strict adherence to preventive measures can significantly curb the spread of the virus, and that there is no need to panic. A total of 16 Covid cases have been reported in Haryana recently. In response to a query on Covid cases in Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini too, on Wednesday, said that the health department is fully prepared to handle the situation. Rao said the department has issued an advisory to all civil surgeons regarding Covid-19. They have been directed to establish dedicated 'flu corners' at health facilities to provide early screening and treatment. Hospitals across the state are being instructed to ensure readiness with adequate beds, including isolation beds, oxygen supply, essential antibiotics, PPE kits, N-95 masks, and necessary testing supplies, she said. The minister said refresher training sessions for healthcare staff will be organised to reinforce knowledge on Covid-19 signs, symptoms, management and updated guidelines. The public is being encouraged to adopt appropriate Covid-19 behaviour, including maintaining respiratory and hand hygiene, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, practicing social distancing, avoiding spitting in public places, wearing masks in crowded environments, and frequent hand-washing, an official statement quoted Rao as saying. District surveillance units have been instructed to closely monitor home-isolated cases, particularly high-risk individuals such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those who have comorbidities. Meetings with the Indian Medical Association are also being convened to strengthen preparedness at the district level. Rao appealed to all citizens to stay vigilant and follow the safety protocols. "Let's stay informed and follow safety protocols," she said. The health department has instructed all civil surgeons, district surveillance units and health facilities to implement these measures immediately and ensure daily reporting through the established channels. PTI
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Haryana issues Covid advisory amid rise in weekly cases
Following a rise in Covid-19 cases across Haryana, the state health department has issued a fresh advisory directing all district health officials, surveillance teams, and hospitals to enhance preparedness and remain on alert. The advisory, issued under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), follows the detection of 15 new Covid-19 cases in the past week—eight from Gurugram, five from Faridabad, and one each from Yamunanagar and Karnal. Officials have been asked to ensure hospitals establish dedicated flu corners and maintain adequate isolation beds, oxygen supplies, PPE kits, N-95 masks, antibiotics, and testing kits. 'Hospitals must strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols, particularly in OPDs and emergency wards, where healthcare workers should wear masks,' said a senior health department official. The department has also called for refresher training sessions for medical staff to update them on Covid symptoms, case management, and state protocols. Civil surgeons and district surveillance officers have been instructed to resume monitoring influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) trends. According to the revised testing strategy, 100% of SARI cases and 5% of ILI cases must undergo Covid-19 testing. 'All public and private facilities must upload daily data on the IDSP-IHIP portal,' the advisory states. It also asks districts to coordinate with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to ensure preparedness. In Gurugram, where the highest number of new cases have been reported, 10 beds have been set aside at the Civil Hospital in Sector 10 for possible admissions, although no hospitalisation has been required yet. 'The district administration has intensified surveillance. Early detection and timely isolation are key,' said Dr Jai Prakash, Covid-19 nodal officer. Health officials have urged citizens to wear masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, avoid public spitting, and stay home if symptomatic. 'So far, most patients are showing mild symptoms similar to the common cold,' said Dr Alka Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram. However, the exact positivity rate or number of tests conducted over the past week has not been disclosed. 'The district administration has intensified surveillance efforts. We are tracing the travel history of both individuals and identifying people they may have come in contact with recently. Early detection and timely isolation are key in preventing further transmission,' said Dr Jai Prakash, Nodal Officer for Covid-19. The health department has also issued an advisory urging citizens to seek medical testing if they develop symptoms such as a cold, cough, fever, body ache, or fatigue. Special focus has been placed on international and inter-state travellers, with district surveillance officers instructed to follow up with such individuals.
