Mumbai: Protests have intensified across Maharashtra against the state government’s decision to allow CCMP-qualified homoeopathic doctors to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Doctors under Central MARD, BMC MARD, and ASMI staged a black ribbon protest on Tuesday, calling the move a threat to patient safety and the credibility of modern medicine.
The associations have opposed the council’s recent decision to register homeopaths who completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), terming it “dangerous” and “an act of playing with people’s lives.” In a joint statement, they warned that the decision undermines years of rigorous allopathic training and compromises healthcare standards.
Medical associations across the state, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctors Association, and the Association of Medical Officers, have announced a one-day token strike on September 18. During the protest, elective and routine OPD services will remain suspended, while emergency services will continue. The doctors clarified that the strike is not for professional gain but to protect patients’ safety.
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also extended support, warning that if the government does not withdraw the decision, the agitation could escalate into a nationwide strike. FAIMA president Dr Akshay Dongardive called the move “unacceptable” and a direct attack on evidence-based medicine.
The CCMP course, introduced in 2014 under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, allows homoeopathic practitioners to receive short-term training in modern medicine. Although the Bombay High Court had stayed a similar notification earlier, the state recently directed MMC to resume registrations, sparking fresh outrage.
Despite widespread opposition, MMC has announced the launch of a dedicated online portal from September 17 for CCMP-qualified doctors to register themselves, further fueling protests from the medical fraternity.
