Maharashtra Doctors to Strike Indefinitely Over Homoeopathy Drug Prescription Policy

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has announced an indefinite statewide strike beginning from midnight of August 5, in protest against the state government's proposal to grant Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) registration to homoeopathy practitioners. The decision was made after several rounds of discussions with authorities failed to yield a satisfactory assurance on the issue.

The strike will affect government medical college hospitals across all districts. During the first 24 hours, emergency and casualty services will continue to operate in the interest of patient safety. However, all outpatient department (OPD) services, routine duties, elective procedures, and academic activities will remain suspended. If no positive resolution is reached, the association has stated that from August 6 onwards, all resident doctor services, including emergency care, will be withdrawn until further directions.

The core dispute stems from a notification issued by the Maharashtra Medical Council on June 30, which permitted homoeopathy practitioners with a Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree to prescribe modern medicines after completing a six-month certificate course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). MARD has demanded the immediate suspension of the BHMS-CCMP registration process until the final verdict of the court, arguing that the policy lacks a comprehensive, legally sound, transparent, and scientifically validated regulatory mechanism.

Resident doctors contend that homoeopathy practitioners are not adequately trained to prescribe allopathic medicines, and that allowing them to do so could compromise patient safety. The matter is currently pending before the courts, and MARD has stressed that no implementation or registration should occur under the BHMS-CCMP framework without due legal scrutiny and scientific evaluation.

The association has also called on the state government to address long-pending issues affecting resident doctors across Maharashtra, beyond the homoeopathy registration row.

In its statement, MARD emphasised that the agitation is not directed against any system of medicine or its practitioners. The movement is solely aimed at ensuring that any policy affecting patient care is implemented only after proper legal review and the establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework.

The announcement has raised concerns about the impact on healthcare services in the state, particularly in government hospitals where resident doctors form a critical part of the workforce. Patients who rely on these facilities for treatment may face significant inconvenience if the strike extends beyond the initial 24-hour period.

The government has not yet issued a response to the strike announcement. The situation is expected to evolve as the midnight deadline approaches, and further discussions between MARD representatives and state officials may take place to avert a full withdrawal of services.

This development comes amid an ongoing legal challenge to the MMC's notification, with courts examining the validity of the policy. Resident doctors have maintained that any decision on allowing homoeopaths to prescribe modern medicines should be based on scientific evidence and a transparent regulatory process, rather than an administrative order.

For now, the state's government medical hospitals are bracing for potential disruption, with the first 24 hours likely to see reduced non-emergency services. The coming days will determine whether a negotiated settlement can be reached or whether the strike will escalate, further straining the state's public healthcare system.