Over 30,000 doctors from Gujarat on Friday joined the Indian Medical Association (IMA) protest against the government's move to allow post-graduate Ayurveda practitioners to perform certain types of surgeries after training. ALSO READ | Rare Malaria Genus Plasmodium Ovale Reported In Kerala, Found In Soldier Who Came From Sudan

The IMA, which had given the nation-wide call on December 1, has demanded the withdrawal of the notification. As a mark of protesters, including women, carried placards and shouted slogans against Centre’s proposal for mixopathy allowing Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries based on modern scientific medicine.

IMA has called for withdrawal of all non-essential and non-Covid-19 services between 6 am and 6 pm on Friday however the emergency medical services will remain unaffected, news agency PTI reported.

"Over 30,000 of our member-doctors from Gujarat, including 9,000 from Ahmedabad, have joined the protest today," PTI quoted Dr Kamlesh Saini, secretary, IMA (Gujarat branch) .

"We demand withdrawal of the CCIM Act notification and the NITI Aayog committee for integration (of all medicine systems). We urge the government to take into account the grievances of doctors against this mixopathy. The IMA will continue its agitation till our demands are met," Saini said, adding that "Emergency services, including casualty, labour rooms, emergency surgeries, ICU and critical care service will continue."

ALSO READ | Indian-American Raja Chari Selected For NASA's Manned Mission To Moon, Know More About The Astronaut

According to the other media reports, doctors from various government-run facilities such as AIIMS, LNJP Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, DDU Hospital, GTB Hospital, BSA Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital and civic-run Hindu Rao Hospital sported a black ribbon to present their dismal. Some doctors will also observe a hunger strike to demand the withdrawal of the notification.