Homeopaths can now prescribe Allopathy Medicines in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Homeopathic practitioners are eligible to prescribe allopathic medicines if they have completed a certificate course in modern pharmacology, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has recently clarified.

Issuing a directive in this regard to the chemist retailers and wholesalers in the State, Maha FDA on Thursday mentioned that all the drug dealers (retailer/wholesaler) can sell allopathic medicines to registered homeopaths, who have completed the modern pharmacology course.

Further, the FDA clarified that there is no bar on the retail drug dealers to sell allopathic medicines prescribed by such homeopathic practitioners, TOI has reported.

"All retail and wholesale drug dealers can sell allopathic medicines to homeopathic registered doctors who completed the course, and retail drug dealers can sell drugs on prescription issued by these doctors," stated the order issued by Maha FDA.

This directive comes almost a decade after the State Government redefined the "registered medical practitioners" under the Maharashtra Medical Council Act by including the homeopaths.

Referring to the recent directive, FDA Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar on Friday pointed out that there was confusion among the chemists about the allopathic prescriptions written by homeopaths. He added, "Our directive clearly states govt in 2016 changed definition of registered medical practitioner to include homeopaths who passed a certificate course in modern pharmacology recognised by state govt."

Also Read: Homoeopathy doctors cannot practice Allopathy: High Court stay Government Order

Even though the homeopathic practitioners, led by the Maharashtra Homeopathic Council Administrator Dr. Bahubali Shah are happy with the new FDA directive allowing them to practice modern medicine, the modern medicine practitioners under the Indian Medical Associaion (IMA) are upset with this development.

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, IMA plans to seek legal recourse against this directive allowing "mixopathy". Commenting on the matter, the President of IMA Maharashtra, Dr Santosh Kadam said, "We moved the courts when permission was given for them to practise, and the matter is still sub-judice. We will take up the FDA directive in court as well."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2017, Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department had passed a notification, allowing Homeopathy 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).

This directive was also strongly opposed by allopathic doctors in the State, who had questions how could homeopathy practitioners register with the Medical Council. The allopaths had also accused the government of promoting crosspathy.

later, when the IMA approached the Bombay High Court opposing the State Government notification, the HC bench had stayed the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drug Department's notification that allowed homeopathic doctors to practice modern medicine.

Also Read: Homeopathy Practitioners can now practice Modern Medicine in Maharashtra