Mumbai: After a state-wide strike on September 18 against the registration of homoeopathic practitioners with a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), doctors under the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have announced their next steps. The association has given the state government seven days to withdraw the controversial notification, warning of intensified protests if no action is taken.
Protest Plans and Supreme Court Move
In a statement, the IMA revealed that the next phase of agitation will include a long march, demonstrations at Azad Maidan, hunger strikes, and complete withdrawal of health services across Maharashtra. The association, which represents nearly two lakh allopathic doctors, also plans to approach the Supreme Court while urging members to contribute to a legal fund to strengthen the case.
Government Circular Sparks Tensions
The protests stem from a September 5 government resolution reviving CCMP registration, despite earlier withdrawal. On September 18, nearly 1.8 lakh doctors across the state participated in a strike, keeping OPDs and hospitals shut, while emergency services remained unaffected. Medical associations, resident doctors, and corporate hospitals joined the movement, calling the notification a threat to public health.
Background of CCMP Course and Dispute
The CCMP course, introduced in 2014 under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, provided homoeopaths with training in modern medicine. In 2017, the state allowed CCMP-certified practitioners to register with MMC, but the move was challenged by IMA in the Bombay High Court, leading to a stay order. Despite this, the MMC later decided to allow such registrations, sparking repeated confrontations between the medical fraternity and the government.
IMA Demands Withdrawal of Notification
The IMA has strongly objected to the September circular directing MMC to register CCMP-qualified homoeopaths. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the association warned that the move undermines patient safety and violates court orders. It reiterated that only fully trained MBBS doctors should be licensed to practice modern medicine and demanded that the government halt implementation until the pending High Court case is resolved.
