Allopathy doctors and Ayurveda doctors are not performing equal work

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court held that allopathy and ayurveda doctors are not performing equal work and that they are not entitled to equal pay. The apex court overturned the Gujarat High Court's ruling that Ayurveda degree doctors and MBBS doctors are entitled to equal pay. The bench comprising Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mittal took action in the petitions filed challenging the High Court verdict. Allopathy doctors are capable of performing emergency duties, including in the intensive care unit. However, such work cannot be performed by Ayurveda doctors, the court observed.

"Ayurveda doctors have no role in complicated surgeries. However, MBBS doctors can be a part of it. Ayurveda doctors are not required to be present during post-mortem. Every alternative system of medicine may have its pride of place in history. But today, the practitioners of indigenous systems of medicine do not perform complicated surgical operations. A study of Ayurveda does not authorise them to perform these surgeries," the court said.