The Andhra Pradesh government has cleared a significant policy change allowing qualified Ayurvedic doctors to independently perform select surgical procedures, triggering sharp opposition from the Indian
Medical Association (IMA), which has flagged serious patient safety concerns.
Announcing the decision, Health Minister Satyakumar said the move aims to integrate traditional Indian medicine with contemporary healthcare practices. Under the policy, Ayurvedic practitioners holding postgraduate degrees in surgical disciplines will be permitted to carry out specific procedures as per the Indian Medicine Central Council Regulations, 2020, and guidelines issued by the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM).
According to the government, eligible doctors can perform 39 procedures under Shalya Tantra (general surgery) and nine under Shalakya Tantra, which covers ENT and ophthalmology-related interventions. These include surgeries for infectious conditions, removal of damaged tissue caused by accidents, wound management and suturing, treatment of piles and anal fissures, excision of cysts, cataract and tonsil surgeries, muscle-related procedures, and skin grafting.
The minister said the Centre had laid down clear rules in 2020 but alleged that the previous state government failed to implement them, terming it a neglect of AYUSH services in Andhra Pradesh.
The IMA, however, has come out strongly against the decision, arguing that surgery demands extensive, structured, and specialised training that is imparted through the MBBS curriculum and postgraduate programmes in modern medicine. It warned that surgical practice is not merely a technical skill but requires deep expertise in anatomy, anaesthesia, emergency response, and post-operative critical care.
IMA President Dilip Bhanushali cautioned that allowing practitioners without equivalent modern medical training to perform surgeries could compromise patient safety, dilute healthcare standards, and lead to legal as well as trust-related issues. He urged the state government to reconsider the policy, maintain clear boundaries between different systems of medicine, and instead focus on expanding seats and training capacity in modern medical education.
Reiterating its stance, the IMA said patient safety must remain paramount and stressed that there should be no dilution of ethical and scientific standards in medical practice.
