25 Jan 2023 • In Assam, the Supreme Court has banned diploma holders from treating patients with basic ailments, performing minor surgeries, and prescribing specific medications. Notably, the Assam Rural Health Regulatory Authority Act of 2004 allowing diploma holders in medicine and rural health care from treating patients was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The Assam government established the three-year diploma programme about two decades ago in an effort to improve the rural healthcare system by training barefoot doctors who could only partially practice modern medicine. SC also said that this directive implies that the state must do every effort to guarantee equal access to healthcare. As stated in international conventions and agreements, these efforts must be made in order to gradually realise everyone's right to the enjoyment of the greatest standards of physical and mental health.

Source: Medical Dialogues | Read full story