KARIMNAGAR, MAY 31, 2025: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Karimnagar chapter has strongly opposed the ‘Mixopathy’, the proposed decision of an integrated MBBS-BAMS course at JIPMER, Puducherry, by the Union government.
In a statement here on Saturday, IMA Karimnagar district president Dr Anamalla Naresh, Secretary Siripuram Naresh Kumar and treasurer Challuri Vijay Kumar said that the decision was an “unfortunate” move, arguing that the “unscientific mixing of various systems of medicines will not benefit doctors or patients”. The IMA, which has previously raised objections to the idea of combining “incompatible systems,” reiterated its concerns.
“Let all systems retain their pristine purity. Refrain from producing hybrid doctors who will be only qualified quacks,” the statement read. It also warned that “mixopathy takes away the right of the patient to choose care of his/her choice.”
The association argued that India’s strong medical infrastructure and global reputation for producing skilled doctors make such a move unnecessary. “Indian doctors are the backbone of medical services in several Western countries. IMA fails to see any compelling reason or logic in the ill-advised government move,” it said.
The IMA also questioned the long-term impact on both systems, claiming the move could prove disastrous for Ayurveda as well.
“Having failed to convince the government, IMA has no option but to take the people into confidence. IMA appeals to the nation to resist this indiscretion for the health of future generations,” the association said.
Highlighting India’s progress in public health since independence, the IMA noted that life expectancy has risen from 32 years in 1947 to 70.8 years in 2025.
It credited this to the eradication of diseases through vaccination and access to modern healthcare, especially in maternal and child health.
The IMA also cited the failure of a similar integration attempt in China. “China failed in its experiment of mixing modern medicine and Chinese traditional medicine; this also resulted in the decimation of their traditional medicine,” it said.
India currently has 779 medical colleges and produces 136,325 MBBS graduates annually. The IMA stressed that this robust system should not be undermined by an “ill-conceived” integration.
