PANJIM: Around 1,500 doctors and members affiliated to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Goa unit, on Friday withdrew themselves from all non-emergency services as a part of its nationwide protest against “mixopathy”.
Barring emergency services, COVID-19 care activities and intensive care units (ICUs), all other medical services came to standstill till 6 pm. Several private clinics also drew their shutters.
The IMA had given call for nationwide protest against the Centre’s move to allow Ayurveda doctors to perform surgery.
In a statement issued, Goa unit IMA President Dr A Samuel said that all the 1,500 members participated in the protest wherein they attended only emergency cases. He said that due to COVID-19 restrictions and in view of election code, no morcha or dharna was planned.
Samuel said that the delegation of IMA met Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik and submitted him the memorandum against “mixopathy”.
He said that the IMA had met Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant earlier on Tuesday, urging him to look into the matter.
Samuel said that the IMA had brought to the notice of the concerned people that they were disappointed and dismayed over the steps taken by the Central government to disrupt the allopathic modern system of medicine which has been successfully functioning since independence.
“We have high regard and respect for the alternate system of medicine under the AYUSH and we encourage promotion of the same in pure form. It is unfortunate and detrimental to the fragile health system prevalent in our country which requires a robust system to meet the day to day requirement of the citizen,” he said.
