A man previously arrested for practicing medicine without qualifications was publicly honored with the ‘Ayurveda Seva Ratna Award’ on October 4 in Surat, sparking an immediate backlash from the medical community. The award was presented by state minister Praful Pansheriya during the ‘Vande Ayucon-3’ programme, an event organized with the support of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
The recipient had been arrested and jailed in 2024 by the Navsari police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) for practicing as a fake doctor. Following the event, the organizers withdrew the award with immediate effect after the recipient’s background was exposed.
Medical Community Response
The incident has caused intense outrage among qualified practitioners. Approximately 57 Ayurvedic doctors have signed a representation opposing the honor and submitted a written complaint to the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) in New Delhi, calling for a high-level investigation into the episode.
Organizers Failed to Verify Awards Recipients
The controversy has led to questions regarding the screening process for the 15 doctors who received awards. Dr Jignesh Patel, president of the Gujarat Ayurvedic Council and a leading member of the Ayurvedic Association, stated that because the conference was for BAMS doctors, it was assumed they were duly recognized. He noted that with over 1,200 doctors in attendance, the organizers did not verify each of them separately
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Ashokbhai Jirawala, president of the Surat Chamber of Commerce, stated the chamber was unaware of the recipient’s background and had provided support for the joint initiative at the request of Dr Jignesh. He added that the chamber discussed an action plan with Dr Jignesh the day after learning about the alleged bogus degree and video.
Minister Praful Pansheriya stated that action would be taken against those who submit fake documents to obtain recognition, asserting, If anyone has received an honour wrongly, action will be taken
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Questions of Negligence
Medical organizations are now demanding a thorough investigation to determine if the failure to check criminal records, Medical Council registrations, or degrees was a result of collusion or negligence. This occurs while the police and health department are actively conducting search operations against bogus doctors across South Gujarat.
