IMA warns of nationwide strike over Maharashtra homoeopathy move

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has threatened a nationwide strike if the Maharashtra government does not withdraw its decision to allow homoeopaths to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council after completing a one-year certificate course. The move, the first of its kind in India, would enable homoeopathic doctors to prescribe modern medicines.

According to the decision, graduates of Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) will be eligible to register with the state medical council. This would formally permit them to prescribe allopathic or modern drugs, a function traditionally restricted to doctors trained in modern medicine.

Dr Anil Kumar J Nayak, national president of the IMA, termed the decision a “backdoor entry” into modern medicine. He warned that if implemented in Maharashtra, it could set a precedent for other states, potentially diluting the standards of medical practice across the country. The IMA has demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision, failing which it has threatened to escalate its agitation, including a nationwide strike.

The association argues that prescribing modern medicines requires rigorous training in pharmacology, diagnosis, and patient management, which is acquired through a five-and-a-half-year MBBS course followed by internship. A one-year certificate course, it contends, is insufficient to impart the necessary competence and could compromise patient safety.

Supporters of the decision, however, have in the past argued that homoeopaths in many states already prescribe modern medicines informally, and the certificate course would bring this practice under a regulated framework. They also point to the shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas, where homoeopaths often serve as the first point of contact for patients. The Maharashtra government has not yet issued a detailed response to the IMA's threat.

The move comes amid a broader debate in India about the integration of different systems of medicine. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has earlier allowed homoeopaths and ayurvedic practitioners to pursue a bridge course in modern medicine, though with specific limitations. The Maharashtra decision, however, goes beyond existing guidelines by permitting registration with the state medical council, which earlier did not recognise homoeopathic practitioners.

Medical councils in India are statutory bodies that regulate the practice of modern medicine. Registration with the council is mandatory for practitioners to prescribe modern drugs. By allowing BHMS graduates to register, Maharashtra is effectively bringing homoeopaths into the formal fold of modern medicine, a move that has drawn strong opposition from the IMA, which represents a large section of doctors trained in modern medicine.

The IMA has called on the central government to intervene, stating that the decision violates the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act and the Indian Medical Council Act. It has also urged other state governments not to follow Maharashtra's example.

This development is significant because it could reshape the boundaries between different systems of medicine in India. It also raises questions about the adequacy of training for prescribing powerful drugs, the autonomy of state governments in healthcare regulation, and the future of medical pluralism in the country. As the standoff continues, patients and practitioners alike will be watching to see how the Maharashtra government responds to the IMA's ultimatum.