MBBS students will be given the option of choosing Ayush (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy) systems as an elective subject from the 2019-20 academic year. This news was confirmed by a top functionary of the board of governors that oversees medical colleges. This initiative has been taken to introduce future doctors to alternative systems of medicine.
In September 2018 the government had dissolved the Medical Council of India and constituted the board of governors (BoG) to supersede the medical regulator. The new syllabus has been received final approval from the BoG and will be implemented from August. The 3-month module will be designed by Ayush ministry.
Dr V K Paul, chairman, BoG said that this initiative is being introduced to give a hang of the alternative systems of medicine to the students of allopathy but it will not be mandatory for medical students.