Doctors Announce September 18 Strike Over Homoeopaths’ Registration with MMC

Speedy Summary

• Event: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra has announced a state-wide, one-day token strike on September 18.
• Trigger: The Maharashtra Medical Council’s (MMC) decision to launch a portal for registering Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP)-qualified homoeopathic practitioners starting September 17.
• Objections: The move would allow homoeopathy doctors who have completed a one-year pharmacology course to practice allopathy-a decision opposed by several medical organizations, including MSMTA, MAGMO, and MARD.
• Criticism: IMA State President Santosh Kadam condemned the government’s reversal of its previous stance against such registrations, calling it shocking and dismaying to modern medicine practitioners.
• Legal Concerns: IMA highlighted that the matter is sub judice in the Bombay high Court. It termed the registration decision “legally untenable” and possibly contemptuous of court proceedings.
• Protests Timeline:

– Silent black ribbon protest held at government medical colleges on September 16,2025.
– Threats of escalation include a “Long March” to Azad Maidan in Mumbai followed by indefinite hunger strikes if demands are unmet.

indian Opinion Analysis

The tension arises from long-standing debates over expanding practice boundaries for CCMP-qualified homeopaths into allopathic medicine. Healthcare groups like IMA argue this undermines trained professionals’ standards while potentially compromising patient care quality. The legal dispute accentuates concerns over jurisdictional conflicts between professional councils and government intervention.

Should this agitation escalate into wider protests or disruptions-including doctors withdrawing healthcare services-it could adversely impact patient access across Maharashtra’s health system. Moreover, proceeding with registration before legal resolution could lead to further entanglements between stakeholders and judicial authorities.

A logical next step would be prioritizing clarity regarding professional roles through either legislative amendment or awaiting court verdicts, ensuring alignment with established healthcare norms while addressing stakeholder grievances constructively.

Read more: Published – September 17, 2025