CCMP Row: Over 9000 Maha Homoeopathic doctors call off strike after Govt assures review

Mumbai: Demanding the reinstatement of the withdrawn Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) order allowing registration of Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP)-trained homeopathic practitioners, homeopathic doctors across the state launched a three-day hunger strike at Azad Maidan from July 16 to 18. But the strike has now been temporarily called off after the state government sought four days to review their demands.

The strike led by Dr Bahubali Shah, Administrator of the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy, witnessed participation from over 500 homeopathic doctors on Tuesday. They were seen holding placards and chanting slogans against the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the state government, blaming their opposition for the MMC’s withdrawal of the notification.

Also read- Maha sets up panel to review Homeopathic doctors' registration for allopathic practice

They alleged that their rights had been taken away since they do not hold an MBBS degree, but instead have the necessary education to treat the patients. Feeling sidelined, the protesting doctors demanded equal rights in medical practice. HT reported that more than 60 homeopathy colleges across the state supported the strike by sending students to join the agitation.

However, over 9,000 CCMP-certified homeopathic doctors in Maharashtra called off the hunger strike after receiving an assurance from the state government. The government asked them to give four days to review their demands and respond accordingly.

This development followed the Maharashtra Medical Council’s decision to withdraw its order after receiving opposition from various doctors and a subsequent stay issued by the government. Medical Dialogues had reported that the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department formed a seven-member special committee to decide whether homeopathic doctors who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) should be allowed to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council and practice modern (allopathic) medicine.

The CCMP course was started based on the Government Resolution dated 13.03.2014. The course was conducted under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik. After successful completion, eligible homeopathic practitioners received training in allopathic (modern) medicine to serve in public healthcare services.

In 2014, the Maharashtra Medical Council issued a notice in which the council was given the authority to ask all doctors who have completed the CCMP course to register with the council. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2017, the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department had passed a notification, allowing Homoeopathy practitioners across the State to practice modern medicine. As per the special notification issued on 27th September 2017, doctors who obtained the Licentiate of Court of Examiners of Homeopathy (LCEH) degree from 1951-1982, could register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

However, this directive was strongly opposed by allopathic doctors in the state, who questioned how homeopaths could be permitted to register with the Medical Council. They argued that this could jeopardize patient safety and even threatened to strike if the order was implemented. The IMA accused the government of encouraging crosspathy and challenged the amendments in the Bombay High Court in 2014, which resulted in a stay on the notification by the HC bench.

Despite the matter still awaiting a court judgment, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) had, on June 30, officially decided to allow homeopathic practitioners who completed the CCMP course to register with the council and prescribe allopathic medicines.

The issue escalated further after the Leader of Opposition, Honourable Shri Ambadas Danve, raised concerns in the Maharashtra Assembly regarding the inclusion of homeopathic doctors in the council via the CCMP route after requests from the allopathy community. Following this, the government issued a stay on the matter, leading to the MMC suspending the registration process until further notice.

This move angered homeopathic doctors, who heavily criticised the IMA for allegedly interfering with their right to practice allopathy. They claimed the rollback was a betrayal of thousands of homeopaths who had completed or were pursuing the CCMP course and accused the IMA of hiding behind the guise of public health to discriminate against them.

To bring the issue to public attention, the homeopathic community declared a three-day hunger strike from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, continuing overnight till July 18. The striking doctors demanded reinstatement of CCMP registrations, reversal of the suspension orders issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department and the FDA, and increased representation of BHMS-qualified doctors in any future expert panels.

They have also urged the government to formally acknowledge their role in providing crucial healthcare services in rural, tribal, and underserved areas, where CCMP-certified practitioners often serve as the only accessible providers of modern medical care. The protesting doctors stated that the move was biased and discriminatory. The homeopathy doctors have requested that this issue be raised in the legislative assembly and their registration under the MMC be reinstated.

Just hours after the protest began, a meeting was convened with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis around 5 p.m., during which Dr Bahubali Shah expressed the community's grievances.

Speaking to Free Press Journal in this regard, Dr Shah said, "The Chief Minister called a meeting on the very first day of the strike. During the meeting, the state government expressed concerns raised by the IMA over allowing homeopathic doctors to practise modern medicine. We assured Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that CCMP-qualified practitioners are competent and there would be no compromise on patient safety."

Following this, the Chief Minister requested that they call off the strike and assured a review of the matter within four days. As of now, no formal decision has been taken by the Medical Education Department.

Reacting to this, Dr Anil Avhad, state secretary of the Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra, told Medical Dialogues, "Actually the issue is subjudice.. The writ petition 7847/2014 filed against CCMP course by IMA is still going on. And the reinstatement of CCMP candidates in MMC register will totally depend on the final court order . Any action taken by the MMC or the Government in this matter shall amount to contempt of court."

In a post on 'X', Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson of Indian Medical Association - Junior Doctors Network said, "I heard that some Homeopath doctors in Maharashtra are protesting because they didn’t get the chance to practice allopathy via the 1 year bridge course that is recently cancelled after outrage. Now this is ironical, these are the same people who will shout that their pathy is better than Evidence based modern medicine because of No side effects with claims to cure even incurable diseases and now same people want to dilute their branch of medicine by merging it with other. These people are actually against the original essence of Homeopathy and are doing more harm to original practitioners with Mixopathy."

Another doctor commented and said, "Why are homeopathic practitioners so eager to engage in quackery instead of focusing on their own system of medicine? If they truly believe in the efficacy of homeopathy, they should commit to developing and advancing it through research and innovation. But no — the moment someone says allopathy is more effective, they create an uproar."

He further said, "Let’s be honest: this push for mixopathy is not about improving healthcare — it's about overstepping boundaries and playing with the lives of innocent people. Homeopathy has made negligible scientific advancement over the years, yet its practitioners want to encroach upon modern medicine instead of fixing the shortcomings of their own system."

Also read- Maharashtra Medical Council withdraws registration of Homeopaths practising Allopathy