Maharashtra CCMP row: Doctors warn of statewide agitation as medical council resumes homeopath registration

Mumbai: Amid the backlash and strong opposition from the practitioners of modern medicine, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) recently commenced the registration of BHMS practitioners having completed a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).

Vehemently opposing this move, the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded the immediate resignation of the Medical Education Minister Shri Hassan Mushrif and the Principal Secretary, demanding that they "accept moral responsibility for the blatant administrative failure, the chaotic directives to MMC, and the disrespect shown to judicial instructions".

Issuing a warning to the Government, the association has added in a Press Note that if the Government fails to take immediate corrective action, IMA would launch a democratic statewide agitation across Maharashtra. "The Government of Maharashtra will be solely responsible for any situation arising from this protest," it said.

Meanwhile, the State Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) has decided to continue their fight through the available legal remedies, state-wide public awareness, and a united nationwide movement.

Also Read: Maharashtra puts CCMP homeopaths' medical council registration on hold

"This is not a retreat. It is a shift from the streets to the courtroom, public conscience and the national platform. To every resident doctor of Maharashtra: Stay united. Stay dignified. Stay focused. Our strength lies in our unity, integrity and commitment to our patients," the association added in a release.

Modern medicine practitioners have been opposing the MMC registration of homeopaths expressing concern regarding how this move might affect patient care. Renewed concerns were raised in this regard after a government resolution was released earlier this month directing the state medical council to commence the registration of homeopaths. The State had also set up a committee for formulating a standard operating procedure to deal with cases of negligence by homeopaths.

This resulted in a state-wide strike by Central MARD and IMA Maharashtra. However, the strike was called off after a Bombay High Court order. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported on the contradictory positions taken by the Maharashtra Government regarding the MMC registration of BHMS doctors. On August 18, the State put the registration on hold till a final decision is taken by the Bombay High Court or Government, only two days later, the Department of Medical Education and Drugs decided to resume the BHMS registration with the Maharashtra Medical Council.

Writing to the Registrar of the Maharashtra Medical Council, the Department cancelled the letter dated 18 August 2026, through which the registration was put on hold. The letter further added that, regarding the registration of homeopaths having a CCMP degree, further action should be taken in accordance with the decision taken at the meeting held on 28.07.2026.

Reactions from Allopathic Practitioners:

IMA Maharashtra pointed out that the initial strike was called off by IMA and MARD following the order of the Bombay High Court, which had taken a Suo Moto note of the strike. Following this, the HC had explicitly directed the Medical Education Department to implement the Government Resolution (GR) dated August 3, 2026, "In Letter and Spirit", and to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in consultation with IMA, MARD, and other relevant stakeholder organisations, IMA pointed out.

"While official SOP Committee meetings involving representatives of IMA, MARD, the Medical Education Department, and the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) were actively underway as per court directives, the Medical Education Department acted in an extremely irresponsible manner by issuing contradictory orders," IMA mentioned, further pointing out how the Maharashtra Medical Education Department on August 18 issued a circular instructing the MMC not to initiate or proceed with the registration of BHMS CCMP doctors until the final High Court order or the submission of the SOP Committee report. It also referred to the August 20 order of the Government, initiating the registration of BHMS practitioners.

"When questioned by the media regarding this chaos and sudden shift, the Hon’ble Minister of Medical Education and the Principal Secretary gave a shocking statement: "We do not know who issued this letter." "Who is actually running the Ministry and Department of Medical Education in Maharashtra?" questioned IMA.

According to the association, the Medical Education Department is handling an extremely sensitive and sub-judice matter with sheer negligence, demonstrating willful disregard for court orders and playing with the sentiments of doctors.

The association has demanded the resignation of the Medical Education Minister, warned to initiate a strike if corrective actions are not taken and has also decided to initiate contempt proceedings in the High Court.

"If the Medical Education Department does not immediately halt the ongoing MMC registration of BHMS CCMP doctors, IMA will file a formal Contempt of Court petition in the Hon’ble Bombay High Court," IMA said.

Meanwhile, referring to the renewed commencement of registration of BHMS practitioners, Central MARD reiterated its concerns regarding the safety of the patients of Maharashtra, adding that their opposition has never been directed against any individual practitioner or any community of doctors, but their stand has been for one uniform standard of modern medical practice, for undiluted quality of care, and for the years of rigorous training that the practice of modern medicine rightly demands.

"This is a question of patient safety, not of professional rivalry, and we will continue to articulate it with exactly that dignity," stated the association.

"Our respect for the Hon’ble Judiciary is absolute. In deference to the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, which has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and has restrained resident doctors from resorting to strike, Central MARD has honoured the Court’s direction in both letter and spirit. Not for a single hour have our members abandoned their patients — emergency, casualty and life-saving services have continued without interruption throughout. We believe the credibility of our movement rests precisely on this: that we fight hard, but never at the cost of the sick," it added.

MARD has decided to continue its protest by pursuing legal remedies before the High Court, initiating a state-wide social media and public-awareness campaign, and reaching out to other Resident Doctors' Associations across the country to build a nationwide movement.

Also Read: Maharashtra resumes CCMP Homeopath registation with medical council