The Bombay High Court has sought a reply from the Maharashtra Public Health Department on a petition challenging the exclusion of Unani Medicine graduates from being appointed as Community Health providers in backward areas of the state under the National Health Mission programme.
Integrated Medicine Practitioners Association, which is a registered association of Unani doctors, have challenged an advertisement issued by the government, calling for applications only from graduates of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. The petition claims that such a move is arbitrary and discriminatory, although the Centre recognises both streams of practice and allows them to practice allopathy.
The plea says that the advertisement that seeks applicants for 1,336 posts under the National Health Mission and National Rural Health Mission, goes against the constitutional mandate of treating Unani doctors on par with Ayurveda doctors. The fully-funded Central government scheme aims to provide comprehensive maternal health care services to women living in backward areas of the state. It also aims to provide comprehensive neonatal and infant health care services to reduce infant mortality rate, along with steps to reduce communicable diseases and provide screening and management of non-communicable diseases.
The plea cites example of Jammu and Kashmir, where a similar advertisement of the National Health Mission was issued, which held Unani practitioners eligible. They said that the state government should therefore issue corrigendum and include Unani doctors as eligible. Further, the petition also used the example of the advertisement issued by the Chhatisgarh government, which even held nurses eligible for application tot he post.
'LEARN FROM THEM'
The plea prays for directions to regard the advertisement as discriminatory and stay the selection process.
