NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has changed its logo, removing the national emblem and putting in a picture of Dhanvantri, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is called the god of Ayurveda in the Puranas.
NMC said the Dhanvantri logo had been in use for nearly a year. “Previously it was black and white, so you couldn’t see it in print. We just used a color photo in the center of the logo,” the source said.
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that even the WHO emblem is a staff with a snake wrapped around it over the United Nations symbol. The cane and the snake have long been symbols of medicine and the medical profession. According to the WHO, the story originates from the story of Asklepios, who was revered by the ancient Greeks as a god of healing and the use of snakes.
There is no mention of ‘India’ in the NMC logo, but the term ‘Bharat’ is used. There was no official announcement regarding the logo change.
The logo change was criticized by the Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association. “The recent changes to the NMC logo are unacceptable to the modern medical fraternity. The new logo gives the wrong message and undermines the scientific and secular nature of the commission,” the statement said. It added that the move should be withdrawn. .
IMA national president Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal said he would issue a statement after discussing the issue at a meeting scheduled for Sunday.
Last week, the health ministry had directed that Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Center will henceforth be known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir. The ministry said it has written to states and union territories to implement the rebranding exercise.
States have also been asked to upload photos of their rebranded primary healthcare facilities on the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Center (AB-HWC) portal. The rebranded AB-HWC will also have a new tagline: ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’, the ministry said.
NMC said the Dhanvantri logo had been in use for nearly a year. “Previously it was black and white, so you couldn’t see it in print. We just used a color photo in the center of the logo,” the source said.
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that even the WHO emblem is a staff with a snake wrapped around it over the United Nations symbol. The cane and the snake have long been symbols of medicine and the medical profession. According to the WHO, the story originates from the story of Asklepios, who was revered by the ancient Greeks as a god of healing and the use of snakes.
There is no mention of ‘India’ in the NMC logo, but the term ‘Bharat’ is used. There was no official announcement regarding the logo change.
The logo change was criticized by the Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association. “The recent changes to the NMC logo are unacceptable to the modern medical fraternity. The new logo gives the wrong message and undermines the scientific and secular nature of the commission,” the statement said. It added that the move should be withdrawn. .
IMA national president Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal said he would issue a statement after discussing the issue at a meeting scheduled for Sunday.
Last week, the health ministry had directed that Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Center will henceforth be known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir. The ministry said it has written to states and union territories to implement the rebranding exercise.
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