Homoeopath-Allopath Row: IMA defers strike after Maha CM intervenes

Mumbai: Amid the growing controversy and opposition from the medical community regarding the practice of modern allopathic medicine by CCMP-trained homeopathic practitioners, a delegation of Indian Medical Association (IMA) leaders met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late Thursday in this regard. The Chief Minister responded positively and assured them that a resolution would be reached soon. 

Following this assurance, the IMA Maharashtra State Executive Committee held an emergency meeting and unanimously decided to postpone their token strike, which was scheduled for 11th July 2025. The association, however, warned that if the government fails to fulfil its assurance, then they will intensify the issue and launch protests. 

Issuing a press release in this regard, IMA Maharashtra said, "An urgent and positive meeting was held late tonight, 10th July 2025, with Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow. The meeting was made possible with the support of Hon’ble Sudhirbhau Mungantiwar and the initiative of Dr. Mangesh Gulwade.

Also read- Doctors Demand Withdrawal of Maharashtra Medical Council Notification allowing CCMP-Trained Homeopaths to Practice Allopathy

The leaders who were at the meeting included Dr. Santosh Kadam, President of IMA Maharashtra; Dr. Anil Awhad, Secretary; Dr. Shivkumar Utture; and Dr. Mangesh Gulwade.

"The Hon’ble Chief Minister listened to our memorandum with seriousness and immediately contacted Chief Secretary Shri Dhiraj Kumar and MMC Administrator Dr. Vinky Rughwani, instructing them to convene an urgent meeting on the matter tomorrow morning," mentioned the press release. 

The medical community over the past few days have been constantly raising their voice against the official permit for homeopathic practitioners to prescribe allopathic medicine by completing a bridge course- Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). They called it "ethically unacceptable, legally questionable and a danger to public health."

However, the ongoing battle had led to a clash between the allopathic and homeopathic doctors. While allopathic doctors say that a 5.5-year MBBS course with exhaustive clinical training cannot be compared to a bridge certificate and fear for the safety of the public, the homepathic doctors have accused the allopathic doctors of coming in between their long-standing overdue reform. In this regard, homoeopathy associations have announced counter-protests, including a hunger strike and legal action, reports HT. 

This controversy erupted immediately after the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) issued a notification in this regard, officially permitting homoeopathic doctors to practice allopathic (modern) medicine, only after completing a bridge course- Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), as reported by Medical Dialogues. 

Under the new guidelines, homoeopathic doctors who have completed the CCMP course can register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and practice modern medicine. The state government has given permission to the medical council to issue registration certificates to the eligible homeopathic doctors with a CCMP certificate. The MMC will launch an online registration facility starting July 15, 2025, for eligible doctors.

The decision sparked fierce backlash from the allopathic community, who alleged that this could pose serious health risks to the public and argued that its implementation would severely dilute the scientific integrity of modern medicine.

Also read- Homeopaths with Pharmacology certificate can practice allopathy, register with Medical Council- New rule in Maharashtra