Students reject course for better health services --TNN,

LUCKNOW: Terming the Union health ministry proposal to start a bachelor’s degree course in rural medicine and surgery (BRMS) as a “senseless step” to save villagers from quacks, students from ayurvedic, Unani and homeopathy colleges of UP took out a protest march on Thursday. The march started from the Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital in Tudiaganj. Raising anti-government slogans, they demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposal. The march culminated into a congregation at the Shaheed Smarak.

“Compromising quality to meet a crisis is not a solution to any problem. The decision is ridiculous, especially when the government has qualified doctors,” said Jeetendra Kumar, president, Prantiye Ayush Chhatra Sangarsh Samiti - the banner under which the students are protesting.

The association cited various facts to prove its point:

First, the country has more than 7.25 lakh Ayush doctors, most of whom are passouts of government ayurvedic, Unani and homeopathy colleges. But of these, only 41,000 are in government doctors. “Why not use this human resource to do the needful?” questioned a student.

Second, agitating students said , Ayush doctors study basic aspects of medicine and survey and dynamics of health for five-and-a-half years which includes one year of internship. Many pursue postgraduation and even research which means that Ayush doctors are more qualified than BRMS doctors.

“It takes three years or more to become a nurse or a pharmacist.... won’t this degree mean compromising the level of doctors,” asked another student. His friend added that the syllabus of medical science through any stream cannot be completed in three years. “The burden is so much that even five-and-a-half years fall short,” said a student.

Third, students make it to the Ayush colleges after clearing the medical entrance test. The exam is a proof of the competence and subject intellect. For instance, over 70,000 candidates appeared in the Combined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT) 2009. But only 1700-odd were selected in the medical or Ayush colleges.

“An Ayush doctor is not able to get a medical seat due to a difference of some 20-30 marks. We are a part of the cream selected through a recognised process. Our contention for the same posts is stronger than a BRMS graduate,” asserted a student.