The Indian Medical Association (IMA) today opposed the proposed amendments to the new Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act  which allows Ayurvedacharyas, Homeopaths and Nurses to conduct MTP (abortion) on pregnant mothers.

"This is apparently incorrectly based on an unscientific study done by Population Council in 2012 which showed that trained nurses and Ayurved physicians provide medical abortion as safely as MBBS doctors.

At the outset, it may be noted that in 2012 when the MTP Act 1971 was in place which does not allow anyone other than an MBBS doctor registered under the Act to conduct abortions, how could the Ayurveda doctors and nurses carry out MTPs as per the study conducted by Population Council. This smells of malpractices in the medical field," said Narendra Saini, secretary general of IMA.

IMA has written a letter to the Prime Minister and Union Health Minister requesting them to withdraw this proposed Bill immediately in the better interest of the health of  the general public.