Modern Medicine must remain with MBBS doctors- says Maharashtra Medical Education Minister amid CCMP row
Doctor
Mumbai: In a recent update regarding the CCMP controversy in Maharashtra, State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif said that the practice of modern medicine should remain with MBBS doctors, Indian Express has reported.
The Minister expressed this opinion while speaking with representatives from various medical associations, including the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), among others, on the issue of an earlier government decision regarding the registration of CCMP-qualified homeopathy practitioners to practice.
Issuing a Press Release in this regard, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) mentioned, "Govt. acknowledged the concerns of doctors and assured that the integrity of modern medicine will be preserved by opposing CCMP registration of homeopathy practitioners."
MARD's meeting with the Medical Education Minister was held on September 30, 2025, to review the decision of the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) regarding the CCMP course and registration of homeopathy doctors for practicing modern medicine.
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Apart from MARB, the representatives from FAIMA, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Maharashtra Government Medical Officers Association (MAGMO) were also present.
In the Press Release, Central MARD informed that the Minister and officials clearly acknowledged that the practice of modern medicine must remain with MBBS doctors. They noted that the CCMP bill was passed in a different context when doctor availability was less.
Mentioning that at present, new medical colleges have been opened and MBBS doctors are in surplus, the release further mentioned that it was also noted that India has already surpassed the WHO doctor-patient ratio (recommended 1:1000 vs. current 1:811), and recently 895 MBBS doctors applied for rural bonds but most could not be accommodated due to lack of vacancies.
"It was assured that these concerns are valid and justified, and the matter should also be strongly presented before the courts," mentioned the release.
Apart from the issue of registration of CCMP-qualified homoeopathy practitioners, the issue of stipend of JR-3 residents, issues concerning hostel, academic, and infrastructure, and the tragic case at Pravara Medical College were brought to the notice of the Minister.
The release mentioned that the Minister and department officials expressed support and assured positive action regarding the issue of stipend for junior residents and the minister also took note of the issues concerning hostel, academic, and infrastructure.
"The tragic case at Pravara Medical College was brought to notice. The Principal Secretary, Mr. Dhiraj Kumar, will be speaking with the institute administration to ensure a fair and transparent investigation," mentioned the release.
The Indian Express has reported that while speaking with representatives from various medical associations, including MARD, FAIMA, and others, State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif on Tuesday emphasized that the practice of modern medicine must remain with MBBS doctors.
What is the issue?
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 the 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.
Registration of CCMP-qualified Homeopaths with MMC:
Recently, 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).
This resulted in a strong protest among the medical practitioners across the State. Medical Dialogues had earlier 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 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.
The Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also 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.
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."
Despite the ongoing protests, MMC has decided to comply with the government directive as it 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.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently opposing the Government's decision on the issue, the doctors under the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), BMC MARD and ASMI held a peaceful black ribbon protest.
Also Read: Maharashtra CCMP row: After black ribbon protest, doctors to hold strike tomorrow
