Now Reading: NCISM says calling AYUSH doctors quacks is illegal
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NCISM says calling AYUSH doctors quacks is illegal
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a circular clarifying that qualified and registered practitioners of India’s recognised systems of traditional medicine cannot legally be described as “quacks”…
The Story in Brief
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a circular clarifying that qualified and registered practitioners of India’s recognised systems of traditional medicine cannot legally be described as “quacks” or “bogus doctors” simply because they practise Indian systems of medicine. The regulator said many such practitioners were being subjected to harassment and defamatory public campaigns. The circular dated July 29, 2026, states that doctors holding recognised qualifications such as BAMS, BUMS, BSMS or BSRMS, and registered under the NCISM Act, 2020, are legally recognised medical practitioners. However, the circular does not equate ISM doctors with MBBS doctors or grant them automatic authority to practise modern medicine or prescribe allopathic drugs.
The Indian Opinion
The NCISM circular is timely, but does it address the real problem? The debate over AYUSH vs allopathy often ignores patient safety. A ‘qualified’ practitioner is not automatically a good one. The real test is whether these doctors can treat emergencies. The public deserves clarity, not just legal protection. Watch if state governments now allow AYUSH doctors to prescribe allopathic drugs in primary health centres. That single policy move will reveal if this is about dignity or dilution of standards.
Sources (2): thehindu.com, thehindu.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
