The Chief Secretary has been asked to appear before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) personally on June 14 and submit all relevant reports pertaining to practice of allopathic medicines by Ayurveda, Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathy (AYUSH) doctors in the State.
The NHRC’s summon for personal appearance of the Chief Secretary came when the latter failed to respond to the repeated notices of the commission over the matter. The commission, however, in its order has clarified that in case, the relevant reports are made available to the commission on or before June 7, the Chief Secretary shall be dispensed of personal appearance on June 14.
It may be mentioned here that a social organization, India Media Centre, had filed an application before the commission in January this year alleging that more than 1,300 Ayush doctors are posted in as many Public Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the State. “In the absence of sufficient allopathic doctors in these health centres, the Ayush doctors are asked to prescribe allopathic medicines and in some cases the Ayush doctors are single-handedly looking after the health centers,” the application said, adding that the Ayush doctors are not trained to practice allopathic treatment.
Urging the commission to restrain the Ayush doctors from practising allopathic medicines, the application had urged the commission to direct the State Government to appoint allopathic doctors in these health centres.
While admitting the application in January itself, the NHRC had asked the Chief Secretary to file a report on the matter within six weeks. When no response came from the Chief Secretary, the commission also issued reminders in the matter.