Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The story so far: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a circular clarifying that qualified and registered practitioners of India’s recognised systems of traditional medicine cannot legally be described as “quacks” or “bogus doctors” simply because they practise Indian systems of medicine. The clarification comes after the regulator said many practitioners were being subjected to harassment and defamatory public campaigns.
What does the circular say?
According to the circular dated July 29, 2026, doctors who hold recognised qualifications such as BAMS (Ayurveda), BUMS (Unani), BSMS (Siddha) or BSRMS (Sowa-Rigpa), and are registered under the provisions of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, are legally recognised medical practitioners. The regulator says there is no legal basis for calling such registered practitioners “quacks” or “bogus doctors” merely because they belong to the Indian System of Medicine (ISM).
Why did NCISM issue this clarification?
NCISM said it had received reports that registered ISM practitioners were being labelled as “quacks” or “fake doctors”, targeted through public notices, criticised in print and electronic media, attacked on social media, and subjected to harassment in other public forums. The circular is intended to clarify their legal status and discourage such characterisations.
Does this mean ISM doctors are equivalent to MBBS doctors?
No. The circular recognises that practitioners registered under the NCISM Act are legally recognised medical practitioners within their own systems of medicine. It does not erase the distinction between different systems of medical education or automatically grant practitioners the legal authority to practise modern medicine in every circumstance.
Whether an Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha or Sowa-Rigpa practitioner can prescribe allopathic medicines or practise modern medicine depends on the laws of the relevant state, specific statutory provisions, government notifications, and court rulings applicable in that jurisdiction.
What is a “quack” in legal terms?
In common usage, a “quack” generally refers to someone who falsely claims to be medically qualified or practises medicine without the required qualifications or legal registration. NCISM’s position is that this label cannot be applied to practitioners who possess recognised ISM degrees and are duly registered under the law, because they are authorised practitioners of recognised systems of medicine.
Why is this significant?
The clarification is significant because it reaffirms the statutory recognition of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa practitioners under the NCISM Act, seeks to protect registered practitioners from defamatory or misleading public characterisations, and distinguishes between qualified practitioners of recognised Indian systems of medicine and unqualified individuals who falsely claim to practise medicine.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) is the statutory regulator established under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, to oversee medical education, professional standards and the registration of practitioners in India’s recognised traditional systems of medicine—Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa. It replaced the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and is responsible for maintaining educational standards, recognising qualifications and regulating the professional practice of these systems.
Published – July 31, 2026 10:20 am IST