Jorhat, Sept. 2: The Assam unit of Biochemic Medical Association of India has urged the state government to appoint biochemic physicians in hospitals, PHCs and dispensaries and also give recognition to two biochemic medical colleges in the state.

The Assam state observer of the association, C. Bhattacharya, told reporters here today that the director of medical education, Assam, said in 2000 that it had no objection to giving recognition to the biochemic system of medicine. But because of a “misleading campaign” by a section of homoeopaths in the state, the process was stalled.

Bhattacharyya, who is also the principal of the G.C. National Biochemic Medical College and Hospital at Cooch Behar, said the government should appoint biochemic physicians in the hospitals, primary health centres, sub-centres, and dispensaries as biochemic physicians and give recognition to two biochemic medical colleges at Jorhat and Barpeta.

He said the government should promote biochemic physicians as it was doing in case of AYUSH (Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy) medicines in government hospitals.

Bhattacharyya said in Assam, the two biochemic colleges offer a three-and-a-half-year diploma course on biochemic medicine.

He said the government should also make a separate budget allocation for infrastructure development and research work in this area in the state.

Bhattacharyya said the association had been urging the Centre and taking legal recourse to get a separate recognition for its apex body in the country — the Central Council of Biochemic Medicine.

However, the Centre was yet to grant a separate recognition as the biochemic system of medicine, which is under the Central Council of Homoeopathy Act, 1973.