NEW DELHI: Doctors across India went on strike Tuesday over a controversial bill that would allow practitioners of alternative therapies such as homeopathy to practise as medical doctors. More than 300,000 private and public Doctors in the country of 1.25 billion cancelled all outpatient services, forcing the government to delay a planned vote on the controversial bill in parliament. The bill proposes to reform the country´s ailing healthcare system and address a chronic shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas. It would allow those qualified in areas such as homeopathy and ayurveda ? a traditional form of Indian medicine ? to practise Western medicine after completing a ?bridging course? of an unspecified duration. India has nearly 800,000 practitioners of traditional medicine who undergo rigorous training in their own fields, but are not currently allowed to prescribe drugs.
01-03-2018, 07:53 AM
Doctors strike over alternative medicine plan
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