The National Council of State Health Ministers (NCSIM) issued an order stating that qualified AYUSH doctors cannot be labeled as ‘quacks’ [1].

This directive aims to protect practitioners of traditional medicine from professional mischaracterization and legal vulnerability. By formally recognizing these doctors, the council seeks to integrate traditional systems into the broader healthcare framework without the stigma of unlicensed practice.

The order specifically covers practitioners of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa. These systems collectively form the AYUSH framework, which the council intends to shield from derogatory terminology that could undermine the legitimacy of qualified professionals [1].

According to the NCSIM, the primary goal of the order is to "prevent mischaracterization as ‘quacks’" [1]. This move provides a layer of professional security for those who have undergone formal training and certification in these traditional disciplines.

The council said the order is focused on ensuring legal protection and recognition for traditional medicine practitioners [1]. This clarification addresses a long-standing tension between conventional Western medicine and traditional Indian systems regarding the definition of a qualified medical professional.

By establishing this boundary, the NCSIM intends to stabilize the professional status of AYUSH doctors. The council said the order clarifies that those with recognized qualifications are legitimate healthcare providers and should be treated as such in legal and professional contexts [1].

“qualified AYUSH doctors can't be labeled as 'quacks'”

This order represents a formal effort by the Indian government to legitimize traditional medicine systems on par with modern medicine. By legally prohibiting the term 'quack' for qualified AYUSH practitioners, the state is reducing the professional risk for traditional doctors and strengthening the institutional standing of Ayurveda and other indigenous practices within the national health system.