Puducherry:AlthoughJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)recently clarified that there are no current plans to introduce an MBBS-BAMS dual degree programme at the institute, information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request has suggested that the proposal in this regard has not been shelved. In a communication addressed to the Union Health Ministry, JIPMER informed that the institute has received a proposal for starting the dual degree programme, and it has already formed internal committees to evaluate the proposal and the course curriculum submitted. The institute acknowledged in the communication that the proposal though unprecedented is visionary. Therefore, the institute has advocated for exercising due diligence and seek opinion of all major stakeholders. The RTI revelation comes after the institute recently issued a statement and clarified that there are no plans to introduce any MBBS-BAMS integrated courses so far. Therefore, the institute urged everyone to rely solely on official communication for accurate and authentic information from JIPMER. "It has come to the notice of JIPMER that there have been media reports regarding introduction of dual degree programme integrating MBBS and BAMS at the Institute. The Institute hereby categorically clarifies that there is no move to introduce any such programme at JIPMER as of now. The Institute urges the media and general public to rely solely on official communication for accurate and authentic information from JIPMER," the Press Release issued by JIPMER on 13.09.2025 mentioned. The announcement of India's first integrated MBBS and BAMS course at JIPMER, Puducherry, was made by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, on May 27. The file notings from the Union Health Ministry showed that the proposal for setting up the institute to teach the MBBS-BAMS integrated course came from the Auroville Foundation in January 2024. On previous occasions, the Ministry had sought a response from JIPMER regarding the MBBS BAMS Dual Degree Programme. Recently when Dr. K.V. Babu, an RTI activist, applied RTI act and sought details of the status of the letter dated 11.07.2025 from the Ministry to JIPMER regarding the proposal, the institute informed that "a fair reply regarding "Proposal regarding setting up of an Institution for providing Integral medical Education leading to dual degrees MBBS and BAMS at Auroville Foundation" has been prepared for onward transmission to Section Officer, INI Section II, MoH&FW, Nirmal Bhawan, New Delhi." S. Rangabashiam, the Deputy Director (Admin.) & Nodal Officer to MoH&FW, JIPMER, Puducherry informed the Ministry that the institute has "received a proposal for start of a dual degree program integrating MBBS and BAMS at JIPMER, Puducherry." It further added that the institute has already formed internal committees to evaluate the proposal and course curriculum submitted. It also added that consultations will be held with external experts of repute from the fields of Modern Medicine & Ayurveda to explore the modalities of implementation. "In this regard, it is to submit that this proposal though visionary, is unprecedented in the history of Medical Education in the country. Therefore, due diligence has to be exercised and opinion of all major stakeholders like Medical Teachers, Students, Parents, National Medical Commission & National Board of Examination, etc. has to be taken into account. Further, conscious decision has to he taken at the level of the highest policy making body of the Institute i.e., the Institute Body (IB)," the communication from Mr. Rangabashiam further added. "The recommendation of the Institute Body will have to be approved by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Govt. of India since this would have far reaching consequences on Medical Education and Health Care in the entire country," it mentioned. Even though it is the responsibility of statutory bodies like NMC, CCH, and CCIM to design such integrated educational modules, while responding to an RTI query raised by the doctor, NMC on 26.06.2025 informed that "The third joint meeting of NMC, NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) and NCH (National Commission for Homeopathy) was earlier proposed to be held on September 23, 2024. However, due to non-availability communicated byNCISM, the same could not be held and the matter regarding convening the meeting in 2025 has not yet been decided." The RTI responses, therefore, suggested that statutory bodies like NMC, CCIM were not involved in the process of starting such an MBBS-BAMS dual degree course at JIPMER. earlier reported that allopathic doctors have been strongly objecting to Government's plan of combining MBBS with BAMS. Recently, the Indian Medical Association strongly criticised the attempts being made to unscientifically mix different systems of medicine, adding that "We respect all systems of medicine and strongly opine that we need to preserve the purity of each system." Referring to the plans of the MBBS-BAMS integrated course at JIPMER, the association said, "JIPMER would no longer remain an institute of national importance if such an unscientific step is taken." Also Read: JIPMER denies plans for MBBS-BAMS integrated course