INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (HQs.)
(Registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860)
Mutually Affiliated with the British & Nepal Medical Associations
I.M.A. House, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi-110 002
Telephones: +91-11-2337 0009 (10 lines), 23378680 / +91-9999116375, 9999116376, Fax: +91-11-23379470
Website: http://www.ima-india.org ; Email: hsg@ima-india.org
National President
Dr. Sharad Kr. Agarwal
+91-9717111942 np@ima-india.org
Immediate Past National President
Dr. Sahajanand Pd. Singh
+91-9334118698 sahajsurgery.phulwarisharif@gmail.com
Honorary Secretary General
Dr. Anilkumar J. Nayak
+91-9825051333 draniljnayak@yahoo.co.in
Honorary Finance Secretary
Dr. Shitij Bali
+91-9910755660 shitij.bali@yahoo.com
IMA/HSG/206/1815
To,
Shri Narendra Modi ji
Honourable Prime Minister of India Government of India
Respected and beloved Prime Minister,
20/02/2023
Pranaam
We bring you the respect and esteem of the modern medicine doctors of India. We wish to bring to your attention some important issues of the medical profession for your consideration.
- There has been a policy shift to introduce integrative medicine. IMA wishes to submit that every system of medicine is unique in its own way and has a distinct identity and profile. Modern medicine has made huge strides in India and has to be accepted as a legacy than a colonial vestige. The life span of an Indian has increased from 27 in 1947 to 70 in 2023. Modern maternal and child health services, eradication of small pox, polio, neonatal tetanus as well as control of Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases have contributed to this phenomenal Health achievement. We could stop Covid on its tracks because of the vaccine and modern medicine doctors manned our Pandemic services. It is estimated around 2000 modern medicine doctors laid down their lives in our war against Covid. Indian medical colleges are amongst the oldest in the world and are rightfully our legacy. Indian doctors are our best ambassadors and add a legion to our soft power. Today India is the proud capital of modern medicine effectively blending clinical medicine with evidence based medicine. The effort to integrate irreconcilable systems will lead onto loss of our leadership in modern medicine. Chinese Traditional Medicine got decimated in such a process. The purity and existence of Ayurveda is under threat by opting for Integrative Medicine. We wish to say that we are the leaders in affordable and accessible healthcare and China is not our role model. IMA appeals to you to preserve the purity of all systems to retain the choice of our people. IMA is apprehensive that Integrative Medicine will set us back by a century and cause irreparable damage leading onto loss of
countless lives. - Violence on doctors and hospitals has become commonplace and can no longer be ignored. Fear rules our hospitals. Young doctors manning our emergencies and ICUs as well as the Obstetricians are in the front lines of such attacks though no one is safe. Physical abuse, trial by media and cyber trolling are order of the day. 25 states have law on attack on doctors and hospitals. They are mostly ineffective on ground and do not serve the purpose of deterrence. The absence of a special central enactment is one of the reasons. It is pointed out that the airline staff have been given a special status and protection under a special law while the doctors and nurses have been left alone to fend
“One for All – All for One” …. a cohesive, collective, enhance, communicative approach to break all sectorial walls and bring all clinicians at one platform to help in building a Healthy Nation INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (HQs.)
(Registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860)
Mutually Affiliated with the British & Nepal Medical Associations
I.M.A. House, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi-110 002
Telephones: +91-11-2337 0009 (10 lines), 23378680 / +91-9999116375, 9999116376, Fax: +91-11-23379470
Website: http://www.ima-india.org ; Email: hsg@ima-india.org
National President
Dr. Sharad Kr. Agarwal
+91-9717111942 np@ima-india.org
Immediate Past National President
Dr. Sahajanand Pd. Singh
+91-9334118698 sahajsurgery.phulwarisharif@gmail.com
Honorary Secretary General
Dr. Anilkumar J. Nayak
+91-9825051333 draniljnayak@yahoo.co.in
Honorary Finance Secretary
Dr. Shitij Bali
+91-9910755660 shitij.bali@yahoo.com
for themselves. Your Government partially mitigated the situation during the pandemic by amending the ancient Epidemic diseases Act 1897. Hospitals are recognised as safe zones even in war. It is unacceptable that they are targeted in peace. Violence on doctors and hospitals is a complex issue and would require a sophisticated and effective response. The Central law against violence on doctors and hospitals could only be a beginning. - The advent of a new regulator in medical education has led to amateurish experimenting affecting the medical students of the nation. One of these avoidable sluggers fast is the confusion compounded by introduction of a licentiate exam NeXT 2 at the end of
compulsory internship and deeming it the entrance exam for postgraduate studies as well. It is illogical to evaluate the least common denominator of being licensed and to identify the best students for post-graduation by a single examination. This will be an injustice to students who wish to join Government service or begin general practice after graduation. The least that could be done is to decouple postgraduate selection. This is not to exonerate the idea of NeXT 1 which is a violation of the Universities Act. The idea of licensing is alien and our medical education has done us proud as evidenced by an omnipresent and competent medical diaspora. - The institution of National Board of Examinations has done well to produce highly competent specialists and super special specialists from non-teaching institutions. It will be in prudence of things to retain and nurture this institution rather than merge the same with NMC which is saddled with many responsibilities all at once.
- Time has come to review all the legislations governing the medical practice including medical negligence. Criminal prosecution in the absence of mens rhea, alterations of the doctor patient relationship to one of consumer and provider, the collateral damage suffered by the profession by the biased structure of the PCPNDT Act and the POCSO Act are few of the many which need to be reviewed in a way aligning the profession with the national interest without alienating.
In a true sense doctor are in a state of fear and harassment from all directions. They deserve solace and succour especially after the crucial Covid war. They certainly need a new deal. We in IMA have high hopes that your administration will hear the voice of the medical profession. Redressal of the grievances of the doctors and medical students of India is awaiting your
favourable consideration.
Thanking you With kind regards
Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal Dr. Anilkumar J. Nayak National President, IMA Honorary Secretary General, IMA
“One for All – All for One” …. a cohesive, collective, enhance, communicative approach to break all sectorial walls and bring all clinicians at one platform to help in building a Healthy Nation
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