Commission for Indian Medicine says registered AYUSH doctors cannot be called ‘quacks’
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine has issued a circular clarifying that registered AYUSH practitioners are legally recognized medical professionals. The commission warned that labeling these doctors as 'quacks' is legally baseless and may infringe upon their professional rights.
Why it matters
This clarification addresses a long-standing professional conflict between traditional medicine practitioners and the broader medical community, impacting healthcare workforce legitimacy.
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a circular clarifying that duly qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian System of Medicine, including graduates of Ayurveda (BAMS), Unani (BUMS), Siddha (BSMS), and Sowa-Rigpa (BSRMS), are legally recognised medical practitioners under the NCISM Act, 2020.
The circular, dated July 29, 2026, states that there is no legal basis for describing such registered practitioners as “quacks” or “bogus doctors”.
The Commission said it had received reports that institutionally trained AYUSH practitioners are being subjected to harassment, defamation and false characterisation through public notices, print and electronic media, social media platforms and other public forums. It clarified that practitioners registered with the appropriate State Councils under the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970 and the NCISM Act, 2020 enjoy legal recognition and are entitled to practice within the scope permitted by law.
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