Move to allow MTP by AYUSH doctors gets mixed response

A proposed amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare may soon make AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) doctors legal providers.The amendment also proposes to increase the gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks. 

The proposal, made in late 2014, was in the public domain for a few days and several doctors in the field have expressed objection to the move. Associations like IMA and Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) have expressed their reservations. An obstetrician and gynaecologist practising at a GH, says,“Unsafe abortions still continue to outnumber safe and legal abortions in the country. AYUSH doctors are not trained to carry out medical termination,” she says.

The primary concern for modern practitioners is the methods that will be used to carry out the termination. Dr Uma Ram, Director, Seethapathy Clinic and Hospital, says, “For me, the biggest concern is, if upon terminating the pregnancy by AYUSH doctors, there is excessive bleeding and a medical procedure needs to be carried out, are these doctors equipped to handle it?” Another point of concern, according to allopathic doctors, is pushing the upper gestation limit for legal MTPs to 24 weeks. “Pushing the limit further to 24 weeks means exposing expectant mothers to further risk. What is the guarantee that 26 or 27 weeks won’t get passed off as 24 weeks?” she feels. 

Dr RS Ramaswamy, Director General, Central Council for Research in Siddha, says that Siddha could supplement modern medicine. “Siddha medicines are part of the TN government scheme for pregnant woman,” he says.

Dr A.U. Ramakrishnan rules out any prescribed code for MTP under homeopathy. He says,  “MTP is a procedure that strictly comes under modern medicine. Homeopathy has absolutely no room for it.” With a growing requirement for doctors in rural areas, AYUSH doctors are in big demand, says Dr KT Jayakrishnan, CMO, Shanta Ayurveda Hospital. 

A source at the Al Huda Unani Clinic in the city says, “We have tested and proven methods for strengthening the uterus when a woman has suffered several miscarriages.”

When is MTP done?