Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 5: The Maharashtra government's decision to allow qualified homeopaths to register for prescribing modern medicines has sparked protests from allopathic doctors, with several medical associations warning of intensified agitation in the coming days.

A Government Resolution (GR) issued on Monday directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to begin registering homeopaths who have completed a one-year certificate course in pharmacology, enabling them to prescribe modern medicines.

Although the resolution came into effect on Monday, only one registration had reportedly been completed by Tuesday evening, despite nearly 2,500 applications remaining pending since last year. Around 10,000 homeopaths are also said to have completed the mandatory certificate course.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which termed it a threat to patient safety. Former MMC president and IMA member Dr Shivkumar Utture alleged that permitting homeopaths to prescribe allopathic medicines could have serious consequences for public health.

The IMA had called for a strike on Tuesday, but the response remained limited, with most private clinics and outpatient departments functioning normally. However, the association indicated that protests could be escalated if the registration process gathers pace.

The Maharashtra government has constituted a committee to establish a grievance redressal mechanism for complaints involving registered homeopaths. Until such a mechanism is in place, no formal framework exists to deal with cases of alleged medical negligence.

On Tuesday, Medical Education Secretary Dheeraj Kumar invited IMA representatives for discussions in an attempt to resolve the dispute. According to the association, it was requested to ensure that emergency medical services remain unaffected.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) announced that nearly 12,000 resident doctors would boycott outpatient services from Wednesday and emergency services from Thursday in protest against the government's decision.

More than 2,000 resident doctors from four Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run medical colleges have also announced a strike from Wednesday, with further action to depend on the outcome of ongoing discussions.

Representatives of the homeopathic fraternity defended the government's decision, stating that the issue has remained under legal consideration for over a decade. However, the IMA alleged that the move was aimed at boosting admissions in private homeopathic colleges and reiterated its demand that the government withdraw the decision.