Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 4: Medical organisations across Maharashtra have announced a 24-hour statewide withdrawal of routine medical services from Aug. 5, opposing the state government's decision to initiate the conditional registration process for Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) practitioners holding a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

The protest follows a Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 3 by the Medical Education and Drugs Department constituting a six-member committee to define the competencies, ethical framework and standard operating procedures for CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners proposed to be conditionally registered with the MMC.

Emergency, casualty and life-saving services will remain operational during the initial 24-hour strike.

Committee to frame guidelines

The committee, constituted after a meeting chaired by the Medical Education Minister on July 28, will be headed by the Commissioner of Medical Education and Research, Mumbai.

Its members include nominees from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, the Directorate of AYUSH, the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy and the Maharashtra Medical Council. The committee has also been authorised to invite subject experts whenever required.

The panel has been tasked with defining the competencies of BHMS-CCMP practitioners in accordance with the prescribed curriculum, preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling negligence complaints, developing an ethical framework governing their practice and recommending measures regarding maintenance of a separate register within the Maharashtra Medical Council.

It will also examine issues relating to the inability of such practitioners to participate in MMC elections. The committee has been directed to submit its report to the state government within one month.

Background of the dispute

The CCMP course was introduced following a Government Resolution dated March 13, 2014, and conducted by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik. The programme was designed to train eligible homeopathic practitioners in aspects of modern medicine to strengthen public healthcare services.

Subsequent amendments to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965, notified on June 25, 2014, provided for maintaining a separate register within the Maharashtra Medical Council for candidates who successfully completed the government-recognised CCMP course.

In September 2017, the state government also permitted certain homeopathy practitioners, including those holding the Licentiate of Court of Examiners of Homeopathy (LCEH) qualification obtained between 1951 and 1982, to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council.

However, these decisions have consistently been opposed by allopathic doctors, who argue that permitting homeopathy practitioners to register with the Medical Council blurs the distinction between recognised systems of medicine and could compromise patient safety.

The government resolution noted that the Bombay High Court, in its order dated September 17, 2025, in Interim Application No. 3548/2025, had clarified that CCMP-qualified candidates could be granted registration subject to the final outcome of Writ Petition Nos. 7846/2014 and 7847/2014.

Accordingly, the state government had instructed the Maharashtra Medical Council through letters dated September 5 and November 25, 2025, to proceed with conditional registrations pending the High Court's final verdict.

Medical fraternity opposes move

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra State, along with the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Association of State Medical Interns and several other medical organisations, has strongly opposed the government's decision.

The associations contend that granting MMC registration to BHMS practitioners with CCMP qualifications would undermine the scientific foundation, professional integrity and regulatory framework governing modern medicine.

According to the IMA, repeated representations, letters and meetings with government authorities failed to address concerns raised by the medical fraternity, leaving doctors with no option but to launch a statewide protest.

Central MARD has also submitted a representation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging immediate intervention to halt the proposed registrations until the High Court delivers its final verdict.

The association also requested the government to resolve long-pending issues concerning resident doctors, including stipends, service conditions, workplace safety and academic welfare.

Doctors seek suspension of registrations

In its memorandum, Central MARD urged the government to immediately direct the Maharashtra Medical Council and Medical Education Department not to process or approve registrations of CCMP-certified BHMS practitioners until further court orders.

The association also sought a categorical assurance that the state would not institutionalise cross-practice beyond the legally recognised scope of any medical system and that practitioners should be allowed to practise only within the limits of their recognised education, training and statutory registration.

It further demanded that no government resolution, administrative order or regulatory mechanism be used to legitimise cross-practice and called for an urgent meeting with Central MARD representatives before any further policy decision.

Resident doctors defend protest

Central MARD president Dr Atharva Shinde said institutionalising cross-practice through certificate courses or executive orders sets a dangerous precedent.

"Institutionalising cross-practice through a certificate course, Government Resolution or executive order sets a dangerous precedent that dilutes statutory boundaries and ultimately compromises patient safety. No workforce shortage or administrative convenience can justify this," he said.

He added that the solution to healthcare shortages lies in recruiting qualified doctors, filling vacant MBBS and specialist posts and strengthening public healthcare infrastructure.

"Having exhausted every democratic avenue, and with long-pending resident doctor issues including stipends, service conditions, workplace safety and academic welfare still unresolved, Central MARD has been left with no alternative but to commence a statewide withdrawal of routine medical services from August 5 as part of a peaceful democratic agitation," Shinde said.

Central MARD General Secretary Dr Suyash Dhavane said the protest was not directed against any particular system of medicine.

"We are not against any system of medicine. We respect every pathy and every healthcare professional. Our objection is only to the proposed registration of CCMP-qualified homeopathy practitioners into the Maharashtra Medical Council," he said.

He maintained that every recognised medical system has its own education, scope of practice and regulatory framework, and preserving these distinctions is essential to ensuring patient safety and professional accountability.