Patriot Correspondent
SRINAGAR: Amid lack of registration guidelines Directorate of Indian System of Medicine (ISM) Jammu & Kashmir issues strict directions to checking squad to take action against un-registered clinics.
The Kashmir Patriot learned that since more than two years have passed when ISM has written to Administration Department of Government of Jammu & Kashmir to frame guidelines for registration of Ayurveda/Unani/Homoeopthy clinics and shops, but till date Government has remained unmoved on such a serious concern.
Meanwhile the Directorate of ISM J&K aimed to curb quackery and nuisance of un-registered clinics issues order No.16/ DISM of 2018, Dated: 16-8-18, where ISM mentioned that there are inputs that some persons are running private ISM clicks prescribing Ayurveda/Unani/Homoeopthy medicines without registration thus defrauding gullible patients.
The order raises serious questions of the legalities of declaring a clinic or establishment illegal or seizing the same due to failure of government to come up with legitimate guidelines to structuralize the ISM system in the state.
A group of owners of Ayurvedic, Unani clinics and shops told Kashmir Patriot asking authorization or registration from a Doctors or a practitioner is a welcome step but the order also mentions sealing of un-registered clinics, establishments which is strange.
They added that directorate issued registration forms few years back for Ayurvedic and Unani retail shops, clinics but till date not a single registration or license was issued . “And when we ask officials at ISM Directorate regarding the matter, they confirmed they are unable to issues any registration due to lack of provision or rules”, Ayurvedic, Unani clinics owners said.
They asked if the Directorate of ISM is unable to issue any license or registration to them, how they can declare any one of them un-registered.
The ISM order reads that only those doctors/practioners registered with J&K Board of Ayurvedic/Unani systems of medicine under J&k Ayaruadic/ Unani practitioners Act 1959 are authorized to prescribe Ayurvedic /Unani systems as the case may be. The order added that the doctors/practitioners who are registered under J&K Homeopathic practioners Act, 2003 are entitled to prescribe homeopathic Medicine.
Meanwhile as per Govt order No.308-HME of 2006 dated, 17-5-2006, the Director ISM has been authorized to take punitive action against the defaulters, that includes, Doctors registered for one system of medicine are prescribing the medicine of other system of medicine, Un-qualified persons (Quacks) practicing medicine in various forms, Un-registered clinics /establishments, Institutions registered for one purpose and are performing other health care activities for which they are not registered.
When contacted Assistant Director ISM, Dr. K.K Koul told Kashmir Patriot that the order has been issued for doctors, practitioners who prescribe and sell medicine at clinics or any establishment.
“For those shops, establishments or clinics that only sell and not prescribe medicines we have written to government few years back for issuance of registration guidelines. But we are yet to receive any fee structure, documents needed and other guidelines of registration from the administrative department”, he added.
Dr Koul said the ISM in J&K has also constituted a board long back for the registration of outlets, shops or clinics selling Ayurvedic, Unani medicine in retail but awaits government response to structures the system. “Until we are not authorized by the government to process the registration under certain guideline, how can we go ahead?”, he told Kashmir Patriot .
Comments are closed.