Gurugram, Dec 11 (IANS): Nearly 1,000 doctors affiliated to the IMA's Gurugram chapter on Friday held protests at 25 hospitals across the district to strongly oppose the Centre's order to permit postgraduate ayurveda doctors to conduct 58 kinds of modern surgeries.

The doctors have withdrawn from OPD and non-emergency, non-Covid medical services from 6 am to 6 pm in protest against the government notification in this regard, which they termed "unscientific".

"This notification is hazardous to the health of the Indian citizens. It encourages an unprecedented and unscientific mix of the different medical specialties," said an IMA release.

However, the association members advised encouragement for ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine to conduct research in their own fields and develop them for the betterment of the country.

"This kind of mixopathy will play havoc and cause loss of life and limbs of unsuspecting people.

"We vehemently opposes this government's move to destroy the health of the nation and seek support to demand withdrawal of this notification with immediate effect," said Dr MP Jain, President, IMA-Gurugram.

He warned that if the Centre did not withdraw this notification, the IMA would intensify the protests.

The doctors are protesting against the Central Council of Indian Medicine's notification in November on PG ayurveda education, National Education Policy 2020 and the four committees set up by Niti Aayog for integration of healthcare systems.