Doctors’ association to hold one-day strike on September 18, opposing registration of homoeopathy practitioners with MMC

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) announced a state-wide agitation of a token one-day strike on September 18, following the Maharashtra Medical Council’s (MMC) announcement to launch a portal for the registration of the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP)-qualified doctors, effective from September 17.

IMA also warned of “escalating” the agitation with a “Long March” to Azad Maidan, Mumbai, followed by an indefinite hunger strike if the government does not “withdraw” the decision.

With registration, the government allows homoeopathy practitioners with a one-year pharmacology course to practise allopathy, which is not acceptable to several doctors’ associations, including MSMTA (Maharashtra State Medical Teachers Association), MAGMO (Maharashtra Government Medical Officers Association), and MARD (Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors).

IMA State President, Santosh Kadam, condemned the decision and said, “Despite the government’s own decision that the registration would not be allowed, it has again permitted the registration. The Government’s sudden U-turn has created shock and dismay among the modern medicine fraternity.”

“It must be noted that the issue is currently sub-judice, and the final decision of the Bombay High Court is still awaited. Granting registration before the court’s verdict is legally untenable and amounts to contempt of court,” the IMA officials mentioned in the statement.

IMA has opposed the decision on the grounds that homoeopathy doctors have their own homoeopathy council, so why should they be enrolled in MMC?

IMA and other organisations also warned the government of similar protests on July 10, with all allopathy doctors to withdraw from all the healthcare services. MMC issued a notification allowing CCMP-trained homoeopathic practitioners to register with the MMC on June 30. Thereafter, the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government stayed the order.

Maharashtra’s government medical colleges’ resident doctors, including MARD Cooper Hospital, participated in a silent black ribbon protest on Tuesday (September 16, 2025), urging the government to revoke the decision.