NATIONAL MEDOCOS ORGANISATION
ABOUT THE INSIGNIA
NMO is a medical organisation with a true Bharatiya approach. The medical insignia adopted throughout the world has been derived from the Greek mythology-the snake/is encircling the staff (rod) of Aesculapeus or Caduceus.
NMO searched for a Bharatiya legend to symbolize the Bharatiya heritage to its true sense. Rishi (Saint) Dhanwantari, the first physician treated as the mythological figure, who rejuvenated his patients by his treatment naturally represents the golden era of Bharatiya Medical Sciences.
The NMO insignia visualizes Rishi Dhanwantari stepping to the land of Bharat after emerging from “Samudra-Manthan” (sea churning) said to be held between Sura (gods) and Asura (demons) with ‘kalash’ (pot) filled with ‘Amrit’ (the elixir of life) which was dispensed to the ailing mankind. It also symbolizes the assimilation which was dispensed to the ailing mankind. It also symbolizes the assimilation of all living creatures and thus divinity. The manuscript in left and denoted ”Aayurvigyan” (The knowledge of the medical sciences) which is a part of “Atharva Veda” (one of the four holy books of this land).
(PRANINAM ARTINASHNAM) is the part of a Sanskrit Shloka which has been the source of inspiration for the people of this country from time immemorial. The shloka is:
(One should not desire for a kingdom nor the heaven nor freedom from rebirth, let one desire for total freedom of the ailing living creatures from suffering and diseases).
NMO : How it came up – Founded at Varanasi, the cultural centre of Bharat, on 5th Nov. 1977, NMO has paved its own way in its own right. It is a service-oriented medical organisation in the phase of expansion. Successive 12 national conferences held and publications of 32 issues of Aayurvigyan Pragati, our official organ, have amply proved the worth of NMO.
NMO Units – An Update
Jammu, Amritsar, Faridkot, Simla, Rohtak, Lucknow, Prayag (Allahabad), Agra, Harigarh (Aligarh), Jhansi, Bareilly, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Karnavati (Ahmedabad), Jamnagar, Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Indore, Raipur, Bhopal, Gwalior, Reva, Solapur, Ambejogai, Pune, Mumbai, Mysore, Thrissure, Kozikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Madurai, Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad), Kakinada, Warangal, Guntur, Kurnool, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Brahmpur, Burla, Calcutta, Durgapur, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar Patna, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Bagmatipur (Darbhanga), Khudirampur (Muzaffarpur), Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Delhi.
1. Policies of NMO
THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND THE POLICIES OF NMO
* Paraphrase:
This is an organisation of medicos (allopathic medical and dental students, teacher and practicing – (Private / Govt. and voluntary sector doctors). We ought to understand that medicos are not just a peg in the health plant of GOI/WHO, nor mere the class of professionals in a society in the least.
Let us define our role, not only in the context of our profession, but also vis-à-vis our society, nation and especially the health of our brethren.
Many governments of the world reiterate – health of the people, health for the people and health by the people, and promise health for all by 2000 A.D.
But, if anybody, is responsible and accountable the most (through it is the Govt. in a Welfare State), it is WE. Let us accept this challenge. We are not just modern day doctors in an affluent society, we are the sons of eternal (Amrit), of ancient Rishis – like Dhanwantari, Sushruta and Charak, of Bharat-Mata, of the mother earth.
* Medical Education vis-à-vis Our Academic Activities and Demands
Prologue:
Of all the medical and dental colleges and various institutions run by various Govts. And Private trusts, recognized by the Medical Council of India, and or otherwise affiliated to various universities, aided by UGC – Govt. or donors, NMO appears familiar to them. On the other hand, in two decades (in the history of independent Bharat), NMO has identified some problems and solutions pertaining to medical education as at present. It has put to certain just demands and NMO raised its voice.

NMO demands
* Colleges/Institutes: Campus: (State)
- Separate UG, PG and Super PG study centres with Central admission pattern, separate for each category.
- Adequate buildings and facilities/especially hostels.
- Well-equipped laboratories and rich libraries.
- Campus should essentially be residential for both students and teachers.
- Eradication of hooliganistic activities in campus. No unauthorized person should reside in the campus.
- Adequate facilities for the teaching hospitals, for patients and their attendants and for staff.
- Each teaching hospital should have total link-up with adjoining district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Sub-Centers, both referral and administrative.
- Political meddling should vanish. There should be autonomous administration, say functioning of State Medical Education Administrative Board, in compliance with the Council.
- No new or unrecognized colleges.
- No minority colleges.
- No capitation fee-based colleges.
* University: (State)
- Each State should have an autonomous State Medical/Health University.
- Review of conduct and system of examinations, in compliance with the Council.
* Council: (Center)
- Review of admission (schooling subjects, bonds, etc.) and examination systems.
- Recognition of degrees in foreign countries.
- All India Entrance Tests for Pre-Super-PG, Pre-PG, Pre-UG (and Pre-Diploma) courses.
- Thesis work to be reserved for Ph.D.
- A basic Diploma-cum-Pre-Degree (Modern medical knowledge with the basis of Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Unani, Tibbi and any other health-system like Naturopathy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, etc.) course should be commenced, say DMS (Diploma in Medical Sciences), equivalent to LMP (Licenciate of Medical Practitioner) in co-ordination with other systems regulatory (Council-like) authorities. DMS can only solve our health requirements in rural, tribal and slum areas and will also wipe out quackery in all forms.
- Streamlining the names of degrees.
- Enough powers to enforce its directives.
* UGC: (Center)
A separate autonomous Medical University Grants Commission should be set up (as also for other branches of higher education). All grants must pass after NOC from Council.
* ICMR: (Center)
Co-ordination with Medical Council and paramedical bodies to mould the direction of research as per national (especially rural) requirements.
Syllabus : Council and Universities are required to attend the following demands :
- DMS course (as above).
- Cadaver dissection may be averted by artificial models.
- Native language usage to break language barrier.
(Ayurvigyan Shabdavli of GOI can be used).
- Bharatiya books and journals by Bharatiya authors. (A separate authority may be set up for this purpose). Any private endeavour must be promoted and supports.
- Not only administration, syllabus should also be changed to suit ROME (Reorientation of Medical Education) and national epidemiology. Emphasis on CME, clinics and Community Medicine.
- Suggested New Subjects:
Humanities
Code of Ethics (part of Medicine)
National Health Policy of GOI (part of Community Medicine)
History of Medical Sciences (emphasising) on great persons of Bharatiya Medicine)
Mass Health Education (part of Community Medicine)
Computer application in Medicine
- Suggested New Courses:
All above at PG level, and other PG courses as follows:
Medical Bio-engineering
Genetic Bio-engineering
Hospital Management
Insurance Medicine
Sports Medicine
Occupational Medicine
Critical Care Medicine
Yogic Medicine
Calamity Medicine
Geriatrics
Emporiatrics (in-country and out-country travellers’ diseases)
Adolescent Medicine
Endocrinology
Sexology
A research endeavour should be, dedicated towards Holistic/Integral Medicine also.
* Epilogue:
Soul of education is samskar, the unique dimension of Bharatiya Culture. NMO appeals all concerned to preserve and propagate the values of culture. We do it on our behalf through Dhanwantari Day (National Doctors’ Day) celebrations, Charak Oath ceremony is our innovative, yet traditional symbol.
Our academic activities, our journal and our conferences all focus on these points.
* Medical Professional Structure vis-à-vis Our Organisational Activities and Professional Demands :
We are a registered society within a constitutional frame, though certain amendments are expected in next decade, especially, Hindi/Sanskrit name, state-level committees, etc.
In the last couple of decades, NMO has identified some problems (and few solutions) of our medical profession. NMO has voiced certain demands in its wake. Students, teachers, practicing – Govt., Private or voluntary sector doctors – all face certain difficulties. Some of them, especially the problems of human behaviour vanish by the mere routine activities of NMO. e.g. teacher-student relationship, doctor-patient relationship-both improve through NMO. Certain difficulties require change in structure.
These need to be attended by various authorities concerned with medical profession. NMO has been drawing their attention through various activities e.g. creation of IMS to man the health administration of Govt. NMO raises this issue at various levels.
*Students (UG-PG):
Accommodation problems, ragging, harassment, study and routine expenses, casteism and factionalism-groupism, alienation, addiction, frustration, brain-drain, westernization, lack of nationalism and service-spirit.
NMO organises fresher’s welcome function in traditional style, ‘One College, One Village Seva Programme’, rural service orientation camps in vacations and meetings with social workers of national organisations.
NMO demands proper accommodation, subsidized food, books and instruments for them from State Govt.
We may also arrange study tours of various seva projects and other educational projects and or institutes.
* Internees:
System of internship is not up to the expectations. It should be arranged as any other annual study calender modified to suit practical rural requirements (University and Council). Special fortnight long field camps may be arranged by college/college units of NMO to bridge the yawning up between theory and practice. We also demand re-casting of syllabus.
* Residents: These doctors are amongst the most-burdened lot. Casually and ward and OPD concerned MOS must be appointed to partially relieve them for their study and to attend to their daily routine as ‘All’ the brunt of the teaching hospitals fall on these juniors.
Pay-scales and allowances of internees and residents should be sufficient and proper and uniform all over the country. (For Govt., concerned)
* Teachers (UG-PG): Non-practising allowance should be provided. Teacher-student relationship require to be improved. NMO organises teachers and students on one platform as one family. Our college units to celebrate Guru-Poornima.
Selection of teacher should be based on aptitude tests, continuous training should be provided (Attention : Govt. And University and Council).
We should reconsider the system of honorary teachers. There should be proper accommodation for residents and teachers also.
* Private practitioners: Dichotomy (cut practice), irrational prescriptions and procedures, prescriptions by non-qualified persons, dispensing unlabelled drugs, poor facility of some nursing homes, disproportionate fees, disrupted doctor-patient relationship, lack of skilled paramedical staff-this is one side of private practice. Seniors can guide juniors in this regard. NMO District units can arrange for new practitioner’s welcome. NMO stresses upon ethical rational practice. Dhanwantari Day celebrations rejuvenate pristine glory and age-old nobleness of this esteemed profession. Application of CPA, registration of clinics and nursing homes and application on commercial electricity and other tariffs, professional tax – these are some other problems which the Council and Govt. should together attend.
* In-service doctors (Govt. Health Service Doctors):- Accommodation, no-practising allowance, creation of IMS and its conduct by UPSC and all over the country proper and uniform pay-scales, autonomy of health service administration (i.e. to get rid of political interventions) – these are some of the demands that NMO has raised.
Council should be further decentralized and strengthened to regulate the professional at district levels and thereby the need of Consumer Protection Forum be set at naught. Streamlining Govt. health organizational structure; Ministries and Depts., separate Population Planning Ministry, and subject of drugs should be with the Ministry of Health as a separate Dept. which should also deal with the instruments and other materials required for health services.
* Voluntary Sector Doctors: Though they are few, these dedicated doctors, working in remote areas with self-restrained poverty and with meagre facilities, are the ideals of NMO. Their work should be recognized, emulated and respected by the nation. They have come up to our ultimate goal of Swasthya Seva – Rashtra Seva through their human hearts and helping hands alleviating the suffering of millions.
Authorities concerned should render all necessary help to them. Bond prevalent in Govt. service should be nullified for them. All voluntary health professional/service organisations should co-ordinate with each other and function with democratic, national, cultural and social basis, to further the cause of health of the people of Bharat, and the world.
*To guard national interests, NMO advocates Swadeshi Abhiyan.
*All doctors should be provided with certain privileges, especially, for the means of communication and transport, cheap land, electricity and gas connection, etc. for clinics.
*NMO advocates self-medical-audit-reports in meetings and seminars.
*All concerned authorities should provide continuing medical education (CME) for all doctors. NMO also concentrates on CME.
*NMO expects all doctors to provide preventive services and to spare time for social services.
*NMO expects doctors to avoid allurements from drug companies.
*To cultivate nationalism and social awareness, meetings should be arranged with selfless workers of national organisations. This can be coordinated by NMO district units.
*National Health Services vis-à-vis Our Service Activities and Suggestions :
The ultimate aim of medical educational and professional network is but rendering good health services. Govt. provide horizontal health care network as also vertical health programmes. Our country is also bestowed with laudable voluntary sector health services.
Govt. Health Services and NMO’s Suggestions :
* Creation of Indian Medical Service (IMS) to provide better administration for health services.
* Statewise autonomous corporations to cater health services. All Central schemes and programme to be operated by these bodies.
* Family Welfare Programme needs to be cater health services. All Central schemes and programme to be operated by these bodies.
* Family Welfare Programme needs to be operated by a separate Ministry of Population Planning, which should also conduct census and related surveys, registration work, etc.-both at Center and State.
* Adequate budget for health services in annual outlays, atleast 10% of annual planning expenditure: health budget is investment, not an expenditure. Swadeshi approach be in Govt. purchases.
* Integration of Allopathic health services with other systems through a separate authority, which should develop a swadeshi model of health services.
* Govt. should concentrate on preventive and rural health services.
* Health education, co-ordinated by Health Services Authority, should be taken up by all ministerial and subordinate agencies, especially information, broad/tele-casting and educational agencies.
* Drugs, instruments and diagnostics as also other material requirements ought to be controlled by a special authority through a national policy, National Health Policy should be revised accordingly, Subject to drug should be with the Ministry of Health; as a separate department guided by autonomous authority.
* National Drug Policy – cheaper, fewer, safer drugs, use of generic names, essential national drugs’ list, research, import manufactures labeling, packing, storage, sale, supply, promotion, prescription, use, monitoring of effects, disposal, withdrawal-all these stages besides economic and information aspects to be regulated.
Rules of fiscal commerce and consumerism, trade and industry should be modified in this sector considering its humanitarian mission. Protection from adverse effects of GATT/WTO/MNCs. National Drug Formulary be revised.
A law be enacted to regulate certain medical/surgical procedures such as for organ transplant.
*Control of quackery/malpractice through effective authorities and well-endowed policy.
*Co-ordination with private and voluntary sector health services should be attained fully. A registry as per a law may be prepared and maintained, through a Council-like authority.
*Govt. Should ban/prohibit all activities detrimental to health, e.g. consuming liquor, smoking, Gutakha, Pan Parag, etc.
*All auxiliary services like nursing, physiotherapy, diet and nutrition, technical and managerial services – should be comprehensively regulated.
Voluntary Health Services – Our Suggestions:
*The use of health services for sectarian/political purposes must be deplored, and should not be allowed.
*Internal co-ordination is the prime need of this sector.
*Govt. duties, tariffs and labour laws, etc., should not be a source of hindrance to this sector.
*Voluntary agencies should decide their priorities as per required needs.
Private Health Services:
*NMO is sure cure for human weakness by consistent efforts but certain structural reforms are anticipated. Regulation of practice and related services-food, air, water, housing, drugs, instruments, diagnostics is must-to-avert the malafide aspirations of individuals, companies and even foreign countries and their cartels.
NMO cultivates Seva-Bhava through
- Its policies and programmes
- Its ideals
- Our culture
- Organisations traditions.
NMO honours dedicated doctors, organises their lectures in our meetings and conferences. We also consider formation of NMO National Emergency Health Grid and expansion of service programmes and projects. NMO has prepared a model “Arogya Achar Samhita” for a common person’s usage.

(2) Medical Professional Swadeshi Movement: NMO
“ADOPT SWADESHI, BOYCOTT VIDESHI”
NMO ia a unique service-oriented organisation in the field of health, organising medicos-medical students and doctors since 1977, all over the country. Allow us to draw your attention towards a burning national problem. Our country is in economic crisis. Our Govt. at the cost of national honour, and i9n the name of economic development, has accepted to facilities multinational companies through various policies including the GATT and Dunkel treaty. This is bound to culminate in economic instability and ultimate total slavery. (Remember, East India Company leading to British Rule).
Allopathic pharmaceuticals, surgical, hospital items and diagnostics are major partner of our nation’s industrial fraternity. Multinational companies draw the nation’s precious money through our prescriptions for drugs and instruments.
Besides, it is a myth that their products are of superior quality as most of them are produced by local manufacturers, only labeled as multinationals. Moreever, their products are profit-oriented rather than need-oriented.
We should come out of this “multinational hangover” and proceed for rational therapeutics.
Let us prescribe the products of standard Indian companies preferably whenever and whenever possible, ADOPT Indian Pharmaceuticals such as – C.F.L. Pharma, Ashish Pharma, Unison Pharma, Kopran Limited, Samir Remedies, Shakun Pharma, sarabhai Chemicals, Cadila Health Care (Alidac Division), Bombay Tablet Mfg. Co. etc.

Aims and Objects of NMO:
(a) To create a nationwide organisation of the medicos on a democratic basis, irrespective of caste, colour, creed and sex for positive health of the nation.
(b) To work for the all-round welfare and development of the medical profession.
(c) To utilise their energy and dissemination of the medical knowledge for solving the various health problems of the downtrodden people of the nation particularly for the rural and tribal people with the help of central and state governments, educational, professional and voluntary organisations.
(d) The work for satisfying the basic needs of the medicos and to guide and help them in solving their various problems arising from time to time.
(e) To develop national character and discipline among the medicos.
(f) To promote constructive activities in social and cultural spheres and utilise medicos’ energies in the various nation-building activities.
(g) To promote progressive outlook among them along with love for the cultural heritage of the land.
(h) To develop harmony and homogeneity among the various components of the society by reviving a sense of tolerance and brotherhood.
(i) To seek the co-operation and good-will of doctors, educationists, educational and health authorities in the work of the NMO.
(j) To promote better teacher-student relationship in medical colleges and institutes.
(k) To promote the academic environment in medical colleges and institutes.
(l) To form a common academic on the basis of a common mode of work for all the members of the medical community, viz., students, doctors and educationists for the reorganization of medical education in the comprehensive context of national reconstruction.

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