IMA (Indian Medical Association) strongly objected to the approval of BSc. (Community Health) course by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. According to these reports, the Bachelor of Science (Community Health) course will create a cadre of community health workers belonging to rural areas who will be posted at sub-centres, functioning under the ministry of health and family welfare to provide allopathic healthcare after studying a three-year course on basic anatomy, diagnosis and treatment of basic ailments. According to the government’s plan, the emphasis of training will be on conducting normal deliveries, pre-and antenatal care, handling diarrhoea, pneumonia, vaccination, providing tuberculosis treatment and treatment of fevers and skin infections. However, IMA members seem unhappy and have objected to the approval. ‘Indian Medical Council Act does not allow anyone except graduates in modern system of medicine to prescribe allopathic drugs. In the past, MCI has also expressed its inability to create such a course. We strongly oppose this proposal,’ said Dr. Narendra Saini, general secretary, IMA.