'Ayurvedic doctors should do MS Surgery, gain experience before entering operation theatre'

Bengaluru: The Centre's proposal to allow AYUSH doctors to perform surgeries has led to a fracas between the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Ayurveda practitioners with the former asserting that later do not have the expertise to do surgeries.

Dr Jagadish Hiremath, CEO, Ace Suhas Hospital has taken a balanced stance over the issue saying that Ayurveda got stoned by the British when they ruled India and today, the issue should not become Ayurveda vs Allopathy.

"Creation of Medical Register and Registered Medical Practitioners where traditional medicine doctors including Ayurveda were not registered literally killed Ayurveda practices. Ayurveda practitioners of the 18th and early 19th century had to face a lot of problems because of this," Hiremath said.

He opined that surgery is a specialised branch of medicine and requires expertise and experience to undertake the difficulty procedure.

"The operation theatres have undergone a sea change in the past 20 years. Even the air inside changed every few minutes. Surgery is not just about cutting a patient who is willing to subject himself to such a procedure. It is a team work. The emergence of anesthesia has led to advancement of every department of surgery."

"Today it is a huge speciality with a lot of responsibility and various sub specialities like Cardiac, Neuro, Obstetric then there is CSSD (Sterilisation) and antibiotics. Understanding CSSD and helping the patient by ensuring that he is least exposed to opportunistic infections during stressful pre-operative periods forms the crux of teamwork. Surgery is not about operation. At best it is 10% of it," he explains.

Hiremath remarks that there are 20 different departments doing 500 different surgeries.

"It is not a Model T car to be put on the assembly line," he stated.

Elucidating the example of his son who had to undergo a complex ENT procedure, Hiremath chose a surgeon who had more than thirty years of experience and performed the surgery in a fully equipped theatre where every possible complications could be addressed. "I will never want anything less for any patient of mine or for any person. What I want to say is the operating team will have cumulative experience of 50 to 100 years before embarking on a surgery on a patient who has consented to it. As a hospital administrator I will not allow a rookie surgeon who has just passed his MS to operate on patients," he explained.

He feels sorry that neither the British and successive governments did not allow Ayurvedic medicine/surgery to develop.

"However, if Ayurveda wants to start doing surgery today we will not accept it unless they know anesthesia, pre-operative care and post-operative care. I will not accept a team with less than 50 years cumulative experience to operate on patients. So if Ayurvedic surgeons have to do surgery in the most equipped theatres they have to do MS Surgery and work for 10 years as assistant to a chief surgeon. Patients come first," Hiremath commented.

"I am happy the world recognises Sushruta for his contribution to surgery but that was a long time ago. Centuries ago. I am not going to allow you to bask in his glory. You better prove yourself if you have to operate on our patients. Allopathic or Ayurvedic does not matter," he states.