Doctors across Maharashtra went on a 24-hour strike on Thursday to oppose the state government’s decision to allow the registration of homeopaths with a certificate in modern pharmacology under the Maharashtra Medical Council.
According to Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra president Dr. Santosh Kadam, nearly 1.8 lakh allopathic doctors, including those working in private hospitals, joined the strike. While emergency and critical care services continued, outpatient and routine medical services were impacted.
The IMA argued that granting registration to homeopaths who completed the one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) poses a serious risk to patient safety and the overall quality of healthcare.
Earlier this year, the government had asked the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to register such practitioners, but the order was withdrawn after protests. A strike planned for July 11 was deferred following a meeting between IMA representatives and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, on September 5, the government revived the registration process through a fresh circular, reigniting the controversy.
In response, all resident doctors’ associations of state-run and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation medical colleges, the Federation of All India Medical Association, the Association of State Medical Interns, and the Government Medical College Association declared support for the strike, calling the decision unacceptable.
