NCISM mandates state registration for AYUSH teachers

New Delhi: Medical teachers working in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa medical colleges are now required to obtain either temporary or permanent registration from their respective Ayush State Board Council, according to a new directive issued by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).

A letter, issued by the Ministry of AYUSH, as reported by Free Press Journal, was released after noting that many teachers in Ayush institutions are currently employed in states different from where they were originally registered.

The responsibility for facilitating such temporary or permanent registration for medical teachers currently working in states other than the one where they were originally registered has been entrusted to the respective State Board Councils- a letter to this effect was issued by the Ethics and Registration Board, NCISM, New Delhi.

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NCISM has clarified that they must hold registration from the concerned State Board where they are working, even if it's temporary. According to the letter, temporary registration will now be permissible. However, as long as a temporary registration remains active, the permanent registration status will remain suspended. 

The Commission has also clarified that permanent registration will be considered valid only for the purpose of applying for government vacancies.

Commenting on this, Dr Rakesh Pandey, Ayush Teachers’ Association president, told FPJ, "Occasionally, doctors are observed engaging in regular practice in states other than the one where they are registered, a practice that cannot be deemed appropriate. To ensure strict compliance with these regulations, the Commission has issued directives to the medical teachers and has now extended these directives to the respective State Board Councils as well."

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Supreme Court sought responses from the Union Ministries of Law, Health and AYUSH on a PIL seeking recognition of AYUSH doctors as "Registered Medical Practitioners" under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

Also read- Can AYUSH doctors be declared as Registered Medical Practitioners? Supreme Court seeks Centre's response