Mixopathy: Innovative Dual MBBS/BAMS degree set to be launched, divides medical community

India will soon start a new MBBS-BAMS dual medical degree at JIPMER, Puducherry. The course allows students to study both allopathy and Ayurveda in 5.5 years, plus internship. The IMA has opposed it, calling it “mixopathy.”

Hyderabad: In the coming months, medical education in India is set for a major change with the introduction of a unique Integrated Dual Degree Undergraduate Medical Course, which offers aspirants a synthesis of allopathy (MBBS) and Ayurveda (BAMS).

The dual medical degree combining MBBS and BAMS has ruffled many feathers and attracted criticism, especially from the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Despite opposition, the course has received a green signal and is set to be launched in JIPMER, Puducherry, in the coming months.

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The course will span 5.5 years, followed by a one-year compulsory internship. Candidates completing the course will be conferred with MBBS and BAMS degrees and will be eligible to practice both the sciences. The course will offer training in MBBS and BAMS and the medical graduate will be eligible to appear in competitive exams for PG students in both modern medicine as well as Ayurveda.

According to the high-powered committee established by the Centre to chalk out the syllabus, Phase I of the dual degree course will be ‘Study and Approach to Normal Health and its Determinants’ and Phase II will be ‘Study and Approach to Diseases and their Treatment’, both of 1 year and 3 months duration each. The Phase-III, which is ‘Study of Healthcare and Healing’ will be of 2 years and 3 months duration.

Based in reports, the detailed syllabus for Phase-I is already ready and a more detailed integrated methodology us being worked out to improve upon synthesizing the two-different learning approaches.

Needless to say, a few weeks ago, the IMA called the dual degree ‘Mixopathy’ and has opposed it. “We are certain that NMC is not being consulted in this decision. Let it be a choice of the patient to choose any system of medicine. Mixopathy takes away that right from the patient. We urge authorities to refrain from producing hybrid doctors who will be only qualified quacks. We demand that the Centre withdraw this regressive proposal in the interest of the health of the people,” the IMA said.

Integrated dual degree medical course:

• Dual MBBS and BAMS degree set to be launched

• Aspirants can now earn an MBBS/BAMS degree in 5.5 years plus 1 year internship

• Completed undergraduates can practice both MBBS/BAMS together

• Dual MBBS/BAMS degree holders will be eligible for PG in allopathy and Ayurveda

• MBBS and BAMS are being synthesized together in the new dual degree curriculum

• Auroville Foundation is working on the new syllabus

• MBBS doctors have opposed the move