The medical fraternity in Maharashtra has announced a 24-hour statewide withdrawal of routine medical services after the State Government constituted a committee to facilitate the conditional registration of Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) practitioners holding the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Medical organisations have opposed the move, citing concerns over patient safety, medical regulation, and the integrity of modern medical practice.
Government Forms Panel on CCMP Registration
The Maharashtra Government has constituted a six-member committee through a Government Resolution issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department on August 3, 2026. The panel has been tasked with defining the competencies, ethical framework, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling negligence cases involving CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council.
The decision follows a meeting chaired by the Minister for Medical Education on July 28, 2026, where it was decided that the process of conditional registration of BHMS-CCMP doctors would continue while a dedicated committee examines the legal, ethical, and professional aspects of their registration and practice.
Committee to Frame Guidelines on Practice and Ethics
The committee will be chaired by the Commissioner of Medical Education and Research, Mumbai. Its members include representatives 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, with the MMC Registrar serving as Member Secretary.
According to the Government Resolution, the committee will define the competencies of CCMP-qualified doctors in line with the prescribed curriculum, prepare an SOP for negligence complaints, develop an ethical framework, and make recommendations on issues such as maintaining a separate register within the MMC and the ineligibility of these practitioners to participate in Council elections.
The panel has been directed to submit its report to the State Government within one month, after which further decisions will be taken.
Background of the CCMP Registration Dispute
The CCMP course was introduced under the Government Resolution dated March 13, 2014, and conducted through the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik. It was designed to train eligible homeopathic practitioners in modern pharmacology for public healthcare services.
Subsequent amendments to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965, provided for maintaining a separate register in the Maharashtra Medical Council for eligible CCMP-qualified practitioners. The Bombay High Court, in its order dated September 17, 2025, permitted registration of CCMP-qualified candidates subject to the final outcome of Writ Petition Nos. 7846/2014 and 7847/2014. Based on this, the Government directed the Maharashtra Medical Council to proceed with conditional registration pending the court’s final decision.
Medical Organisations Oppose Government Move
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra State, supported by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), the Association of State Medical Interns, and several other medical organisations, has strongly opposed the Government’s decision.
The organisations contend that registering CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council could compromise the scientific foundation of modern medicine, blur statutory boundaries between recognised systems of medicine, and adversely affect patient safety.
They stated that repeated representations, letters, and discussions with the Government had failed to address their concerns, leaving them with no option but to launch a peaceful protest.
Central MARD Announces Statewide Protest
Central MARD has announced a statewide withdrawal of routine medical services from August 5, 2026. Emergency, casualty, and all life-saving services will continue during the initial 24-hour protest to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
The association has urged the Government to immediately halt the proposed MMC registration of CCMP-certified BHMS practitioners until the Bombay High Court delivers its final verdict. It has also requested an urgent meeting with the Government and called for the resolution of long-pending issues affecting resident doctors, including stipends, service conditions, workplace safety, and academic welfare.
Important Highlights
- Maharashtra has constituted a six-member committee to frame guidelines for the conditional MMC registration of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners.
- The committee will define competencies, prepare an ethical framework, and develop an SOP for negligence cases.
- IMA Maharashtra, Central MARD, and other medical organisations have announced a 24-hour strike opposing the proposal.
- Emergency, casualty, and life-saving medical services will continue during the protest.
- Medical organisations have urged the Government to suspend the registration process until the Bombay High Court issues its final verdict.
