Maharashtra govt forms panel on BHMS-CCMP conditional registration with medical council, doctors announce strike
Mumbai: The medical fraternity in Maharashtra has expressed strong opposition and announced a 24-hour strike after the Maharashtra Government formed a panel for initiating the conditional registration process of Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) practitioners holding the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).
The Maharashtra Government has recently constituted a six-member committee to define the competencies, ethical framework, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling negligence cases involving CCMP-qualified BHMS doctors registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council.
CCMP registration row:
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported on the continuous dispute between homeopaths and allopathy doctors in Maharashtra over the direction issued to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to grant registration to BHMS practitioners who have done a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
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 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.
CCMP-qualified homeopaths allowed to register with Medical Council?
Now, the government has issued a government resolution (GR) regarding the conditional registration of CCMP-certified BHMS doctors with the state medical council.
The six member committee has been constituted through a Government Resolution issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department on August 3, 2026. According to the resolution, the decision follows a meeting chaired by the Minister for Medical Education on July 28, 2026, during which it was decided that while the process of conditional registration of BHMS-CCMP doctors would continue, a separate committee should be formed to examine various aspects of their registration and practice.
The committee will be chaired by the Commissioner of Medical Education and Research, Mumbai. Other members include a Technical Member nominated by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research and a technical member (homeopathy branch) nominated by the Directorate of AYUSH, the Registrar of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), the Registrar of the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy, and the Registrar of the Maharashtra Medical Council, who will serve as the Member Secretary. The committee will have the authority to invite experts to committee meetings as required.
As per the Government Resolution, the committee has been asked to define the competencies of BHMS-CCMP registered doctors in accordance with the prescribed curriculum. It will also frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling negligence complaints against these doctors and develop an ethical framework governing their role. In addition, the panel will make recommendations on other issues related to CCMP registration, including matters arising from maintaining a separate register in the Maharashtra Medical Council and the inability of these practitioners to participate in the Council's election process.
The committee has been directed to submit its report and recommendations to the State Government within one month from the date of the Government Resolution. Based on its recommendations, the Government will issue further orders.
"Under the Government Notification dated 25 June 2014, amendments were made to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965. These amendments provided for maintaining a separate register in the Maharashtra Medical Council for candidates who have successfully completed the Government-recognized Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). The Bombay High Court, in its order dated 17 September 2025 in Interim Application No. 3548/2025, clarified that CCMP-qualified candidates may be granted registration, subject to the final decision in Writ Petition Nos. 7846/2014 and 7847/2014. Accordingly, through Government letters dated 5 September 2025 and 25 November 2025, the Maharashtra Medical Council was instructed to proceed with registration subject to the final orders of the High Court," the GR said.
Protest from doctors
Strongly opposing the government's move, Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra State, with support from Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, Association of State Medical Interns and other medical organisations, declared a 24-hour withdrawal of medical services as a protest against the proposed granting of MMC registration to BHMS doctors who have completed the CCMP course.
The association said that BHMS-CCMP practitioners are being considered for registration in a manner that is perceived by the medical fraternity as compromising the standards, integrity, and scientific foundation of modern medicine, with potentially serious long-term consequences for public health and patient safety.
Despite repeated communications to the concerned government departments and ministry, including prior representations, letters, and press conferences, the concerns raised by the medical fraternity have not been adequately addressed, said IMA.
Under these circumstances, and being left with no other effective option, IMA Maharashtra State, decided to undertake this protest in the larger interest of public health and to safeguard the standards of evidence-based modern medical practice.
In support, Central MARD has submitted a final representation to Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, urging immediate intervention to halt the proposed MMC registration of CCMP-certified BHMS practitioners until the Hon’ble Court delivers its final verdict and to resolve the long-pending issues of Resident Doctors.
Central MARD has announced a statewide democratic withdrawal of routine medical services from 5 August 2026. Emergency, casualty, and all life-saving services will continue during the initial 24 hours in the interest of patient care, after which the future course of action will depend on the Government’s response.
The association has appealed to the Government to initiate immediate dialogue and resolve the issues in the larger interest of patient safety, scientific medical practice, and the welfare of Resident Doctors.
"The immediate issue before the Government is the proposal to grant Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) registration to BHMS practitioners possessing the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). If implemented, this proposal would establish a precedent for institutionalising cross-practice through the regulatory framework of the Maharashtra Medical Council. Central MARD firmly believes that such a precedent would not only affect the present proposal, but could gradually dilute the statutory boundaries governing recognised systems of medicine and ultimately compromise patient safety. Central MARD most respectfully but unequivocally requests the Hon'ble Chief Minister to immediately direct the Maharashtra Medical Council, the Medical Education Department and all other concerned authorities not to process, consider, approve or grant registration to any CCMP-certified BHMS practitioner under the Maharashtra Medical Council until further orders, and to keep the entire proposal in complete abeyance until final orders are passed by the Hon'ble Court," the association wrote in their letter.
The association has requested the government to
1. Immediately direct the Maharashtra Medical Council, the Medical Education Department and all concerned authorities not to process, consider, approve or grant registration to any CCMP-certified BHMS practitioner under the Maharashtra Medical Council until further orders, and to keep the entire proposal in complete abeyance.
2. Categorically declare that the Government of Maharashtra shall not permit, recognise or institutionalise cross-practice beyond the legally recognised scope of any recognised system of medicine, and that every healthcare practitioner shall practise only within the education, competency, clinical training and statutory registration of his or her own recognised system of medicine.
3. Ensure that no Government Resolution, executive notification, administrative order, regulatory mechanism, guideline or any other executive action is utilised to directly or indirectly legitimise, facilitate or institutionalise cross-practice in Maharashtra.
4. Convene an urgent meeting with the representatives of Central MARD before any further policy decision is taken regarding the proposed registration of CCMP-certified BHMS practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council.
5. Expedite resolution of the long-pending legitimate issues of Resident Doctors that have repeatedly been brought to the notice of the Government through earlier representations.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Atharva Shinde, Central MARD President said, "Institutionalising cross-practice through a certificate course, Government Resolution or executive order sets a dangerous precedent that dilutes statutory boundaries and ultimately compromises patient safety. No workforce shortage or administrative convenience can justify this."
He added, "The real solution lies in recruiting qualified doctors, filling vacant MBBS and specialist posts, and strengthening public healthcare infrastructure. Having exhausted every democratic avenue, and with long-pending resident doctor issues — stipends, service conditions, workplace safety and academic welfare — still unresolved, Central MARD has been left with no alternative but to commence a statewide withdrawal of routine medical services from 5th August 2026, as part of a peaceful, democratic agitation. We appeal to the Government for urgent, amicable resolution."
Meanwhile, Dr Suyash Dhavane Central MARD General Secretary in a post on X wrote, "Why do doctors and medical organizations have to raise the same issue again and again? Why are we repeatedly forced to protest? Let us make our stand clear. We are not against any system of medicine. We respect every pathy and every healthcare professional. Our objection is only to the proposed registration of CCMP-qualified homeopathy practitioners into the Maharashtra Medical Council. Homeopathy already has its own statutory regulatory body, just as modern medicine has its own. Every system of medicine has its own education, scope of practice, and regulatory framework, and these should remain distinct. Our stand is about protecting the integrity of medical regulation, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining professional accountability—not opposing any pathy."
