Allopathy doctors across Karnataka have threatened to intensify their protest against the central government's decision to allow Ayush doctors to do surgeries.
Thursday was the 11th day of the strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The Karnataka chapter of the IMA pledged to step up the protest after February 14.
Allopathy doctors had boycotted outpatient (OPD) services in December 2020. But the central government refused to withdraw the controversial order.
The doctors' protest has been themed around ‘Ban Mixopathy’. Every day, around 20 doctors boycott their work and stage a sit-in in front of the office of the Karnataka Medical Council.
Dr Shashikumar B M, the president of the Karnataka chapter of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), said that when many experienced surgeons had faced difficulties while performing some surgeries, it was unscientific to allow Ayush doctors to perform surgeries. "It will jeopardise the lives of the people. The government must immediately withdraw this order," he said.