Maharashtra: Homeopathic practitioners in Maharashtra will now be able to practice modern medicine after completing a six-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), designed to train them in prescribing basic modern medicines.
What Happened
The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has issued a circular allowing homeopathic doctors to practice allopathy, but only after they complete a special six-month pharmacology course. Once completed, they will be allowed to register themselves as Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) under the MMC. However, the council is yet to decide the scope of medicines and diseases that will be covered.
Eligible doctors can start applying from July 15, as MMC plans to launch an online registration portal. Notably, the MMC has been functioning without an elected body of doctors since 2022.
“We received directions from the government and a clearance from the Law and Judiciary Department regarding the case pending before the court. We will begin registering them starting July 15. Till then, we will be studying what kinds of medicines they will be allowed to prescribe.”Dr. Vinky Rughwani, Maharashtra Medical Council Administrator
Legal Background
The move dates back to 2014, when the Maharashtra government made changes to two laws—one for homeopathic practitioners and another for the medical council—so that homeopaths could prescribe modern medicines under specific conditions.
However, the move was met with significant backlash. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) opposed the amendment, and the Bombay High Court later put a stay on it.
Efforts to lift the stay started last year. In December 2024, the FDA asked chemists and wholesalers to supply allopathic medicines to homeopaths who had finished the CCMP course. In February, a meeting was held between Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, MMC officials, Homeopathic Associations, and BJP MLA Randhir Sawarkar, who directed the MMC to implement the 2014 amendment.
Dr. Santosh Kadam, IMA Maharashtra’s President, said that while the FDA can regulate medicines, it isn’t the one to decide who gets to practice medicine. “That lies with the Maharashtra Medical Council. Now that it has issued a circular, it gives legal weight to what was previously just a directive,” he said. He also alleged that both the FDA and MMC were under pressure to issue this order, and added that many homeopathic colleges are run by or linked to politicians in the state.
Backlash from Medical Community
The move has sparked widespread backlash among the medical fraternity. The IMA’s Maharashtra chapter called it a threat to public health and announced a token strike on July 11 in protest. IMA State Secretary Dr. Anil Ahwad told Medical Dialogues that enrolling homeopaths in the MMC register creates “dangerous confusion” among the public.
“Modern medicine is a scientific discipline that demands years of rigorous training, including pharmacology, diagnostics, and emergency care. If homeopathic doctors begin prescribing allopathic medicines without appropriate education and clinical training, it can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatments, and irreversible harm.”Dr. Anil Ahwad, IMA State Secretary
Critics have also warned that the move could confuse patients about who is formally trained in modern medicine, risking public trust and safety.
On social media, several doctors also voiced concerns. One wrote, “Warning signs from Maharashtra. How low shall we stoop to dilute standards? Protests are needed from all quarters. Urging all resident associations, IMA, and medical forums to take it up at the earliest.”
Some Welcome the Move
However, the decision has found some support. An RTI activist praised the MMC for offering long-awaited relief to homeopaths, pointing out that the course was introduced by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, in 2016 and is already being conducted in 33 government colleges. Over 15,000 homeopathic doctors have completed the course. While the amended law mandated registration for them, implementation had been pending for years.
Looking Ahead
Whether this decision ultimately benefits the state or not, it has clearly stirred deep controversy, creating unrest among allopathic doctors while offering long-delayed clarity to homeopaths who had completed the course but were waiting for official recognition.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)