By Dhruvi Shah
The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) will, from September 17, begin officially registering homeopathic doctors who have completed the one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). Alongside this move, the council is preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to define the limits of allopathic treatment that CCMP-certified practitioners can provide.
The decision has sparked strong opposition from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which has announced a statewide strike on September 18. The IMA argues that the registration process is being pushed through despite the issue still pending before the Bombay High Court.
Dr. Rughwani Vinki Mohanlal, administrator at MMC, clarified, “The CCMP homeopaths would not be equivalent to MBBS doctors. After I went through the CCMP syllabus I realised that many things were taught, but most things are missing compared to an MBBS course. The amendments in the Acts say homeopaths can practise what they are taught under CCMP.”
He added that a separate ethics committee, similar to the medical negligence panel for allopathic doctors, would oversee complaints. “If a patient feels that a homeopathic doctor is not abiding by their practice, they can raise a complaint.”
However, IMA Maharashtra chapter president Dr. Santosh Kadam questioned the urgency. “We have submitted a fresh application to the court to take up our petition from 2014, we do not know why the state government is rushing with registration when the matter is still pending.” He confirmed that more than 1.5 lakh allopathic doctors in Maharashtra will participate in the strike.
Defending the move, Balkrishna Gaikwad, vice-president of the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy said that the CCMP syllabus was prepared by MBBS doctors. “We can provide the primary line of treatment and prescribe drugs, manage emergencies, do normal deliveries but cannot do surgeries or medical termination,” he added.