91% Ayurveda candidates pass bridge course, IMA mocks it as ‘myth’

Nagpur: Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has declared that more than 91% of the total 1,245 candidates have successfully cleared the modern mid-level service providers course. The much talked about bridge course allows Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) doctors to practice allopathy to a certain extent at Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) across the state.
On the very same day, on April 21, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued an official statement calling the mid-level service providers a ‘myth’. “Mid-level providers are myth. Government falling for this myth only exposes the shallow thought-process and utter disregard for human life,” says a statement issued by IMA national president Dr Santanu Sen.
The statement further lambasts the idea of bridge courses, terming it as an attempt to provide half-baked medical care to citizens, which is dangerous. “The conditional postings are unacceptable and they are nothing but cruel exploitation of hapless young graduates,” the statement says, targeting appointment of BAMS doctors at HWCs in Maharashtra.
The State Health Department had provided conditional appointment letters to all BAMS candidates who completed the bridge course and appeared for the Exit Test in March this year. As 1,135 of them have successfully passed the examination, their conditional appointment letters have gained final status. Such candidates will continue working as in-charge of HWCs. They will get their full monthly salaries of Rs25,000 along with performance based allowances up to Rs15,000 per month.
Office bearers of National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA), the apex body of Ayurveda doctors, said the result came out as expected. “According to our records, 1,187 BAMS candidates out of total 1,245 who appeared exit test had joined their duties based on conditional appointment letters. Out of these, 1,135 have passed the examination and become eligible to man HWCs,” said Dr Vishnu Bawane, senior functionary of NIMA. He also added that NIMA will fight for the rights of those who have failed this exit test. “Those who have failed the exit test are eligible for one more attempt as per the law. They should be allowed to work till the second attempt,” he said.
LOCKING HORNS ONCE AGAIN
State’s health department said BAMS doctors can work as modern mid-level health service providers after completing six-month bridge course framed by MUHS
BAMS doctors will be appointed as in-charge of HWCs, an integral part of Ayushman Bharat scheme
IMA, which represents doctors practicing modern medicine or allopathy, claims that only MBBS doctors should man primary health centres
IMA claims there is no crunch of MBBS doctors as total 63,250 MBBS graduates pass out of 434 medical colleges in India every year
IMA has dared government to increase health expenditure and accommodate MBBS doctors in public service instead of going for BAMS or other allied professions in medicines