Vadodara – November 2025 : The Indian Naturopathy & Yoga Graduates’ Medical Association (INYGMA), Gujarat Chapter, today raised serious concerns about state policy decisions that have placed the recognised medical system of Yoga & Naturopathy (BNYS) in Gujarat under severe threat.
INYGMA leaders — Dr. Yashkumar Dodeja, Dr. Kersi Desai, Dr. Pinaki Amin and Dr. Devang Kariya — explained that the root cause is the removal of Yoga & Naturopathy from the State Clinical Establishments framework and related administrative failures. This action directly contradicts national policy and has triggered harmful consequences for patients, institutions and qualified medical professionals.
“Gujarat’s exclusion of Yoga & Naturopathy from the State CEA is a policy error that contradicts national law and risks destroying a legitimate medical system. The GST raids are the immediate and dangerous consequence — they threaten livelihoods, patient safety and the future of BNYS practice in the state,” said Dr. Yashkumar Dodeja, National Treasurer, INYGMA.
Key facts :
- Central recognition: Yoga & Naturopathy is a nationally recognised system of medicine (Central CEA Act 2010).
- The AYUSH Department’s 2006 guidelines provide the framework for registration of Naturopathy physicians and accreditation of Naturopathy institutions.
- State action: In February 2025, Gujarat removed Yoga & Naturopathy from its state-level Clinical Establishment Act (CEA), making Gujarat the only state to do so.
- GST consequences: From July 2025, several Yoga & Naturopathy Hospitals & Centers in Gujarat have been subject to GST summons and raids because GST exemption for healthcare services is being denied where an establishment is not formally recognised as a “Clinical Establishment.”
- Education & Registration Crisis: An Error of Government Resolution (GR, July 2021) restricts BNYS registration eligibility, effectively preventing registration of graduates from multiple institutes, including MPIYNER (affiliated with Gujarat Ayurved University) as well BNYS graduates of other state practicing in Gujarat. Also it doesn’t allow to start new BNYS colleges in the State.
- Public sector neglect: Despite over 150 registered BNYS doctors in the state, not a single BNYS physician has been appointed in Gujarat’s AYUSH hospitals. Other states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, etc.) actively recruit BNYS doctors and utilise central AYUSH schemes like National AYUSH Mission & Umbrella Scheme of CCRYN, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt of India.
- Administrative vacuum: There is no representation of qualified BNYS physicians in the AYUSH Directorate / Health Department of Government of Gujarat — a key reason for recurring policy errors.
Immediate demands by INYGMA Gujarat Chapter :
- Re-include Yoga & Naturopathy (BNYS) in the Gujarat Clinical Establishment Act (CEA) with immediate effect.
- Issue instructions to stop GST summons/raids against BNYS clinical establishments and confirm their GST-exempt status.
- Rectify GR 2021 so that all eligible BNYS graduates of the State (including MPIYNER graduates) receive registration and to allow approval of new BNYS colleges.
- Initiate recruitment of BNYS physicians in AYUSH hospitals and public health facilities across the state.
- Appoint qualified BNYS physicians within the AYUSH Directorate / Health Department, Government of Gujarat, to ensure expert policy representation.
