People with degrees in Homeopathy and Ayurveda could and other practitioners of ‘traditional medicine’ be performing abortions, if the Health Ministry has its way, according to the Times of India.
The Health Ministry has proposed an Amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act to allow AYUSH (Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) certified doctors to perform medical, non-invasive abortions.
The Indian Medical Association, largely composed of allopathic doctors, is opposed to the move.
Their objections are both medical as well as social and legal. Abortions are a risky procedure that often lead to complications that are life threatening. Are AYUSH practitioners and mid-wives really qualified to handle such situations?
The argument on the other side claims that there is a shortage of trained staff, particularly in rural areas. Nearly 50% of the abortions performed in the country are suspect. Also, the Amendment allows AYUSH practitioners to perform only non-invasive procedures.
But where is the mechanism to monitor them? Sex-selective abortion is big business, particularly in north India. Isn’t there incentive to go beyond the law, as people are already doing?
Besides, the training and study required to become an AYUSH certified practitioner is a mere Bachelors degree, a far cry from the near decade of study that medical doctors require. Surely, the ease with which someone can become an AYUSH practitioner, raises the question whether those wanting to profiteer from the illegal abortion market, now have a legal loophole.
Clearly, the shortage of medical personnel is a serious problem. However, it’s not one that can be solved by allowing traditional practitioners to perform serious medical procedures.
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