NIMA’s demand unjustified: IMA
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 31
The Indian Medical Association, Punjab, has strongly opposed the demand of the National Integrated Medicine Association (NIMA) to allow its members to practice modern medicine. NIMA had requested the Punjab Government in this regard and sent its demand to the President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab, for its opinion on the issue. The IMA has strongly opposed the NIMAs unjustified demand.

Speaking to Ludhiana Tribune, Dr R.C. Garg, President, IMA, Punjab, said the recognised system of medicine was governed by the Central Council of each system. The practice of modern scientific medicine was governed by the Medical Council of India Act, 1956, whereas the practice of Indian system was governed by the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.

Dr Garg said the claim of NIMA members of based on various notifications of the state government and especially the 1967 circular of the Punjab Government declaring the ayurveda and unani system practitioners as authorised to practice modern medicine under rule 2 (E) (111) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, and the Drug Rule, 1945, has been obliterated by the decision of the Supreme Court in CP number 89 of 1987, decided on October 8, 1998.

A clarification

The Managing Society of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has contested the observations made in a news report on the Joginder Pal Pandey Annual Oration on ‘India’s Strategic Culture’ published on October 30. It said the report suggested that the show had not been well-attended.

Mr Balraj Kumar, a member of the DMCH Managing Committee, said in a signed statement here on Thursday that the photograph with the story in ‘Ludhiana Tribune’, showing some empty chairs, was misleading. He said the chairs had been empty not due to the boycott of the function by the faculty, as suggested by the picture caption, but because these had been reserved for army officers who had been invited to listen to the lecture. He said the Dumra auditorium had been packed.