Commission Warns Against Calling Ayurveda, Unani Doctors 'Quacks'; Legal Action May Follow
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine ( NCISM ) has issued a circular reaffirming the legal status of duly qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian Systems of Medicine. In the circular dated July 29, 2026, the commission clarified that practitioners holding recognised qualifications and registered with the appropriate State Councils cannot be described as 'quacks' or 'bogus doctors'. The move comes amid concerns over the increasing instances of registered AYUSH practitioners being subjected to harassment, defamation and false characterisation despite enjoying legal recognition under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and the NCISM Act, 2020. Dr. Sushrut Kanaujia, the president of the Board of Ethics and Registration of the NCISM had issued the circular
According to the National Commission, various practitioners holding recognized qualifications such as Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), and Bachelor of Sowa-Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS) have raised complaints of being subjected to harassment, defamation and false portrayals through various digital media platforms.
The commission also emphasized that the NCISM Act 2020 provides the various legal frameworks for regulating education, ethics and professional practice in Indian System of Medicine while also defining the rights and responsibilities of the practitioners registered under the council.
The circular further stated that there is no legal reason to refer to such registered practitioners as ‘bogus doctors’ or ‘quacks’ and any individual or institution using such terminology against qualified practitioners will be acting contrary to the legal recognition granted to professionals and such acts would be an infringement of the practitioners’ professional and constitutional rights.
This circular has been circulated to the Ministry of AYUSH, State AYUSH departments, State ISM Councils, and other relevant authorities for implementation and awareness. This move is expected to discourage the spread of misinformation regarding the professional status of Ayush Practitioners.
According to the National Commission, various practitioners holding recognized qualifications such as Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), and Bachelor of Sowa-Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS) have raised complaints of being subjected to harassment, defamation and false portrayals through various digital media platforms.
The commission also emphasized that the NCISM Act 2020 provides the various legal frameworks for regulating education, ethics and professional practice in Indian System of Medicine while also defining the rights and responsibilities of the practitioners registered under the council.
The circular further stated that there is no legal reason to refer to such registered practitioners as ‘bogus doctors’ or ‘quacks’ and any individual or institution using such terminology against qualified practitioners will be acting contrary to the legal recognition granted to professionals and such acts would be an infringement of the practitioners’ professional and constitutional rights.
Call for Professional Respect
The NCISM, while reiterating its position, has stressed that all duly qualified and registered practitioners of the Indian System of Medicine are legally recognized health professionals. It also asserted that they are entitled to rights, protections and professional respect guaranteed under the NCISM Act 2020.This circular has been circulated to the Ministry of AYUSH, State AYUSH departments, State ISM Councils, and other relevant authorities for implementation and awareness. This move is expected to discourage the spread of misinformation regarding the professional status of Ayush Practitioners.
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