Puducherry— The Government of India is planning to introduce a new integrated medical course that combines MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) and BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.

This announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Minister of AYUSH (Independent Charge), Prataprao Jadhav, on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the newly renovated Emergency and Trauma Care Centre at JIPMER, the minister said the course is currently in its conceptual phase, and work is underway to design a new syllabus.

The minister also stated that JIPMER’s medical infrastructure will be further strengthened through the institute’s expansion and development plans to better serve public needs. He emphasized the Centre’s commitment by assuring that financial support would not be a constraint, saying, “Funds will not be an issue.”

In 2025, the Ministry has already allocated Rs. 1,450 crore as Grant-in-Aid to JIPMER. Currently, the institute attends to over 6,000 outpatients daily and houses 1,800 inpatient beds.

However, the Indian Medical Association has condemned the proposed program, calling the move ‘unfortunate.’ It stated that this ‘unscientific mixing of various systems of medicine will not benefit either doctors or patients.’