u can do it

They can do it
Unani doctors can handle minor medical emergencies
ISSUE BY DR. MUHAMMAD IQBAL

There has been a lot of hue and cry regarding the prescribing of allopathic medicine by BUMS/BAMS doctors and conducting emergencies in allopathic medicine health institutions where they are posted on contractual basis or as part of the NRHM programme. In the recently conducted workshop on role of ISM doctors in NRHM programme held at Ibn-e-Khaldum auditorium at university of Kashmir, the main topic for Director NRHM and Director Health Services was, not to allow BUMS doctors to handle the medical emergencies during their night duties.
It is pertinent to mention here for the information of the officers of Department of Health and the other policy makers in medical and Health Education Department that BUMS doctors have been looking after the emergency patients through the country in the Government ISM institutions which are usually located in the far flung and remote areas of the country. Let me remind all my friends in allopathic medicine that almost 25 per cent of the emergency drugs including dressing materials etc were supplied to unani dispensaries to meet the day to day exigencies. The medical officers of the ISM were involved in the National Health & Immunization programmes also. After the establishment of the separate Directorate, same process continued for a long time.
The question of handling allopathic drugs has arisen in just recent past when the doctors having the ISM degrees were posted in allopathic health institutions in the rural areas on contractual basis and under NRHM scheme. I am strongly of the opinion that a BUMS/BAMS doctor should treat the patient according to the principles of treatment prescribed in their own system of medicine. They should use the single as well as compound drugs of their own pathies. In addition to this they should practice the art of Regiminal Therapies which are the part of their training schedule.
It is an admitted fact that a common man visits the clinic of Hakim/Vaid for Unani or Ayurvedic treatment. This is true even for those who are working in AYUSH Health Centers. At the same times this process is visible only during their routine OPD's or for those who are working in private clinic whether rural or urban. But what about the emergencies as and here I do not agree with the signatories of the circular No. DISM/PMU/CR/09 on the following grounds:-
1. The registration of BUMS/BAMS doctors is being done under CCIM act and not under MCI act 1956.
2. The CCIM is the main governing body of the ISM academic curriculum and the education to BUMS/BAMS graduates is imparted as per the syllabus prescribed by CCIM and approved by Department of AYUSH Ministry of Health, Government of India.
3. The prescribed syllabus is taught to BUMS Doctors for four and half years followed by one year compulsory rotatory internship.
4. The prescribed syllabus is very comprehensive and includes all the advances made in the field of medicine and accordingly some portions of modern medicines is being taught to the students from 1st professional year up to the final professional year in all subjects.
5. These considerations have been put into the syllabus by CCIM for the medical practitioners to meet the emergencies and the situations which warrant so.
6. I am sure that a BUMS/BAMS graduate is fully trained to understand the nature of emergencies and is capable of referring the patients to a specified higher centre when required. At the same time he is fully trained to meet the minor emergencies of the same nature as an MBBS doctor.
I invite the attention of all the signatories of above mentioned circular and other policy makers of the health system to please study the latest prescribed syllabus of BUMS course laid down by CCIM and to my mind that can be an eye opener for all of us.

(Dr. Muhammad Iqbal is Executive Member All India Tibbi Conference)