Calling Registered AYUSH Doctors Quacks Has No Legal Basis, Rules NCISM

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) issued a formal statutory clarification stating that calling duly registered AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa) doctors 'quacks' has no legal basis. The commission warned that disparaging legally registered practitioners damages public faith in recognized traditional Indian systems of medicine.

The advisory comes amid recurring legal and public debates between allopathic medical associations and traditional medicine practitioners regarding cross-practice, diagnostic permissions, and official professional terminology. Under Indian law, 'quackery' specifically refers to individuals practicing medicine without valid qualifications, official registration, or statutory recognition from a regulatory council.

The NCISM was established under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, replacing the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). Duly qualified AYUSH doctors undergo standardized undergraduate (BAMS, BUMS, BSMS) and postgraduate degree courses recognized by the commission and are registered in State and National Medical Registers created under the Act.

The clarification safeguards the legal status and dignity of AYUSH practitioners while strengthening the integration of traditional medicine into India's public health architecture. For aspirants, this news is important for UPSC Mains GS Paper II (Health Governance, Regulatory Bodies) and SSC/State PSC MCQs on statutory health commissions.