MUMBAI — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the state’s healthcare fraternity, the Maharashtra government has officially decided to terminate the long-standing election process for the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Under the new cabinet-approved policy, the traditional democratic system—where registered doctors elect their representatives—will be replaced entirely by a government-controlled nomination system.
The decision, formalized through a recent cabinet meeting and expected to be implemented via an immediate ordinance, will amend the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965. The restructuring involves expanding the council’s strength from 18 to 23 members, all of whom will now be hand-picked by the state government rather than chosen by the nearly 1.3 lakh registered practitioners in the state.
Government officials have defended the transition, arguing that it aligns the state regulatory body with the National Medical Commission (NMC) model, which also operates on a nomination-based structure. A high-level committee, including experts such as Dr. Anand Bang and Dr. Vikas Mahatme, reportedly recommended the shift to make the council more “efficient, accountable, and dynamic”. Proponents of the change claim it will ensure a balanced representation of experts from the medical education sector and streamline the quasi-judicial functions of the body, which oversees medical registration and malpractice investigations.
However, the timing of the decision has sparked intense political and professional controversy. The legislative move comes shortly after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) backed “Members Panel” secured a landslide victory in the April 2026 elections, winning eight out of nine contested seats. Critics and senior medical professionals have alleged that the government is moving to “seize control” of the autonomous body specifically because a panel supported by the ruling political alliance suffered a crushing defeat.
“The move is a direct assault on the autonomy of the medical profession,” stated a former MMC president. “By bypassing the democratic results and moving to a 100% nominated body, the state is effectively silencing the voice of the medical community”.
The Supreme Court had previously rejected a last-minute plea by the state to halt the April 26 polls, allowing the elections to proceed as planned. Despite this, the new legislative amendment effectively renders those election results moot, leaving the newly elected members, including top scorer Dr. Sanjay Kadam, in a state of legal uncertainty.
As medical associations across the state threaten legal action and widespread protests, the government maintains that the new system will be “transparent and merit-based”. For the thousands of doctors whose licenses and ethical standards are regulated by the council, the shift represents a fundamental change in how their profession is governed in Maharashtra.
