Maha Medical Council to launch Homeopath-CCMP registration portal, doctors threaten strike demanding withdrawal
Mumbai: Complying with the earlier government directive, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), Mumbai, has announced the launch of a dedicated portal for the registration of the CCMP-qualified doctors.
The portal will be effective on the medical council's website from 17.09.2025. Through a recent notification, the Council has asked all the CCMP-qualified doctors to register themselves with the MMC through the said portal.
"With reference to the subject and correspondence cited above, it is hereby notified that the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) shall be launching a dedicated portal on its official website, effective from 17/09/2025, for the registration of CCMP-qualified doctors in accordance with specific instructions issued in this regard. Accordingly, all CCMP-qualified doctors are hereby directed to register themselves with the MMC through the said portal and to strictly adhere to the procedure as laid down in the earlier notification issued by the MMC dated 30/06/2025," the Council mentioned in the notification dated 11.09.2025.
This comes after the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to start the registration of homeopathy practitioners who have completed a one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
Meanwhile, the doctors under the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have warned to initiate a one-day statewide token strike on 18.09.2025 if the Government circular allowing Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) registration of homeopathic medical practitioners is not withdrawn.
Urging the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavisji, to maintain the "integrity of the medical profession", the association has announced that on the day of the token strike, all the healthcare services will remain closed for 24 hours.
"Healthcare is a sacred responsibility of the state. We are confident that you will consider our demands immediately to protect the health of Maharashtra's citizens and maintain the integrity of the medical profession. We request that the GR dated 5/9/25 be withdrawn immediately. If the GR is not withdrawn, we will have to intensify our agitation, and on 18/9/25, a one-day statewide Token strike will be observed, with all healthcare services closed for 24 hours. Please take note of this," the association warned in the letter.
Apart from IMA, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also criticised the Government's decision and requested the State Medical Council to withdraw the notification and "safeguard the integrity of modern medicine registration under MMC."
Objection from IMA:
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that IMA had termed the Government's decision as "dangerous" and "a threat to public health", and it had also highlighted that the government's order was in contempt of court as the matter was already pending before the High Court.
Again, on 12th September 2025, the association wrote to the Chief Minister and expressed its deep concern and strong objection to the recent circular issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department, Government of Maharashtra. IMA mentioned in the letter that the direction to Maharashtra Medical Council to give registration to CCMP (Certificate Course in Modern Medicine and Surgery for Practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine) passed homeopathic medical practitioners, "poses a serious threat to the safety and quality of healthcare services."
The association highlighted that the MBBS course is 5.5 years long, covering 19 subjects, clinical experience, and a compulsory internship, whereas CCMP is a 1-year course with only 2 days of teaching per week, which is insufficient to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and decision-making abilities in modern medicine.
It also pointed out that allowing inadequately trained individuals to treat patients can lead to misdiagnosis, adverse reactions, antibiotic resistance, and patient deaths, especially in rural areas.
"Registering CCMP doctors in the Maharashtra Medical Council would create a dual system, leading to confusion, misconceptions, and mistrust among the public," the association opined.
Further, it referred to the regulations by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the State Medical Council, clearly stating that licenses for modern medicine can only be granted to MBBS degree holders. It highlighted that "CCMP is an orientation course, and granting licenses based on this would be legally inappropriate."
"MBBS is the globally recognized standard for medical education. Registering CCMP doctors would compromise the international credibility of Maharashtra's medical education and healthcare services," IMA mentioned in the letter, further adding that "Allowing CCMP doctors to register would set a precedent for other alternative medicine practitioners to demand similar recognition, leading to chaos in the healthcare system and erosion of public trust."
Offering positive alternatives, IMA advised the Government to increase MBBS seats and open new medical colleges, provide incentives for MBBS doctors to serve in rural areas, develop telemedicine, mobile medical units, and digital health services, improve public healthcare infrastructure.
The association has demanded an immediate stay on the decision to register CCMP doctors in the Maharashtra Medical Council and urged the Government not to implement any decisions until the pending High Court case is resolved. As per the association, only fully trained and qualified MBBS doctors should be granted licenses for modern medicine.
FAIMA Urges MMC to withdraw the notification:
Highlighting the issue, FAIMA has recently written to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Referring to the MMC notification dated 11.09.2025, FAIMA requested the Council to reconsider the matter and withdraw the notification.
The association argued that MBBS training involves years of structured education, clinical exposure, and supervised practice and therefore allowing parallel registration may unintentionally create ambiguity in the eyes of patients and the public.
Further, it pointed out that the National Medical Commission (NMC) currently recognizes MBBS and higher medical qualifications for registration and to maintain harmony with national standards, it is important that MMC adheres to the same framework.
"While CCMP training may have its own role in healthcare delivery, registering them under MMC along with MBBS doctors may blur lines of accountability and responsibility in patient care... People associate MMC registration with full-fledged doctors trained in modern medicine. Any dilution of this perception may impact patient confidence in the healthcare system," the association argued.
"We sincerely acknowledge and respect the efforts of all healthcare workers, including those who undergo CCMP training. However, we believe that their role should remain distinct and not be equated with that of MBBS doctors through MMC registration," it added while requesting MMC to withdraw the notification and safeguard the integrity of modern medicine registration under MMC.
Background:
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.
Back in 2017, the State Medical Education and Drugs Department passed a notification and allowed Homeopaths to practice modern medicine and register with MMC. However, allopathic doctors strongly opposed this move and the matter ultimately resulted in IMA challenging the amendments in the Bombay High Court in 2014. Consequently, the HC bench stayed the notification.
While the matter was 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. MMC was directed to register CCM-qualified around 10,000 to 90,000 homeopathic doctors in Maharashtra, in a separate register starting July 15. However, the decision was put on hold and the Government suspended the registration process after IMA warned to initiate a statewide strike.
Following this, 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.
Also Read: Maha Medical Council told to register CCMP-qualified homeopaths, doctors cry foul
