Maharashtra Minister Reaffirms MBBS Exclusivity for Modern Medicine
The State Medical Education Minister, Hasan Mushrif, has reiterated that the practice of modern (allopathic) medicine in Maharashtra should be restricted to MBBS-qualified doctors. The statement was made during a meeting with representatives of multiple medical associations to discuss concerns arising from a recent government decision to permit registration of homeopathy practitioners who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
Who attended and what was discussed
The Minister met with delegates from the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Maharashtra Government Medical Officers Association (MAGMO). A press release issued by MARD following the meeting stated: “Govt. acknowledged the concerns of doctors and assured that the integrity of modern medicine will be preserved by opposing CCMP registration of homeopathy practitioners.”
MARD noted that the meeting took place on September 30, 2025, and was convened specifically to review the Maharashtra Medical Council’s (MMC) earlier decision on CCMP and the registration of homeopathy doctors to practice modern medicine.
Government assurances and workforce data cited in the meeting
During discussions, officials and the Minister acknowledged that the CCMP-related decision had been taken in a different context—at a time when doctor availability in the state was judged to be lower. Presenting workforce data, the delegates highlighted that the current situation has changed: several new medical colleges have opened in recent years and MBBS graduates are now more readily available.
The meeting referenced a comparison with World Health Organization guidance: the WHO-recommended doctor-patient ratio is 1:1,000, while Maharashtra’s current reported ratio was cited at 1:811. Delegates also said that 895 MBBS doctors had recently applied for rural postings under bond schemes but that most could not be accommodated due to a lack of vacancies. MARD reported that officials acknowledged these points and agreed that such concerns are “valid and justified,” and that the matter should be strongly presented before the courts.
Assurances on related administrative and welfare issues
Beyond the CCMP registration dispute, the delegates raised several workforce and institutional concerns. These included delayed stipends for JR-3 (junior resident) doctors, hostel and academic infrastructure deficiencies, and a tragic incident at Pravara Medical College. The press release said that the Minister and department officials committed to positive action on stipend issues and took note of complaints about hostel and infrastructure conditions.
On the Pravara incident, the release states that Principal Secretary Dhiraj Kumar will engage with the institute administration to ensure a fair and transparent investigation.
Background: CCMP course, MMC directives and legal challenges
The CCMP course began under a Government Resolution dated March 13, 2014, and was organised through the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik. The one-year program provided eligible homeopathic practitioners with training in aspects of allopathic medicine intended to enable them to serve in public healthcare services. Following completion of the course, homeopathic practitioners became eligible for registration under rules framed by the Maharashtra Medical Council.
In 2014 and 2017, notifications and departmental orders granted the MMC authority to ask CCMP-qualified doctors to register and allowed homeopaths who had completed CCMP to practice modern medicine and register with MMC. Allopathic medical bodies strongly opposed those measures and challenged the amendments in the Bombay High Court; a bench of the High Court stayed the notification.
Despite pending litigation, the MMC on June 30 took a decision to permit registration of CCMP-qualified homeopathic practitioners, directing the council to register an estimated 10,000 to 90,000 such practitioners in a separate register from July 15. That registration process was subsequently put on hold after warnings from allopathic bodies about possible strikes.
Committee formation and government directive
In response to the controversy, the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department constituted a seven-member special committee to advise whether CCMP-qualified homeopathic practitioners should be permitted to register with MMC and practice allopathic medicine. More recently, the department directed the MMC to commence registration of practitioners who completed the one-year CCMP course, which reignited protests among medical professionals across the state.
Reactions from medical associations and planned actions
The decision to initiate CCMP registrations provoked strong objections from multiple medical organisations. The IMA characterised the government direction as “dangerous” and “a threat to public health,” asserting that it amounted to contempt of court while the matter remains sub judice. In a letter dated September 12, 2025, the association urged the Chief Minister to rescind the circular and demanded that registrations be stayed until the High Court resolves the case, insisting that only fully trained MBBS doctors should be licensed to practice modern medicine.
The Maharashtra chapter of the IMA warned of a one-day statewide token strike on September 18, 2025, should the circular not be withdrawn. The association stated that it would keep healthcare services closed for 24 hours on the day of the token strike to press its demand to “maintain the integrity of the medical profession.”
FAIMA has similarly criticised the government direction and requested that the state medical council withdraw the notification to protect the integrity of modern-medicine registration under MMC.
MMC response and registration portal launch
Despite opposition from major medical bodies and ongoing protests, the MMC moved to comply with the government directive by launching a dedicated online portal for registration of CCMP-qualified doctors. The council notified that this portal would go live on its website from September 17, 2025, and asked all eligible CCMP-qualified practitioners to register through it.
MARD and allied groups have engaged in visible protests, including black-ribbon demonstrations, to press their demands that the government and council reconsider the registration policy and prioritize patient safety and professional standards.
Next steps and legal context
The matter remains contested on multiple fronts: in administrative channels, through direct engagement between associations and the department, and legally in the High Court. Meeting participants reported ministerial assurances that the integrity of modern medicine would be upheld and signalled support for presenting the concerns strongly before the courts. With the MMC portal active and protest notices issued by professional associations, the outcome will depend on further government decisions, court rulings, and continued dialogue among stakeholders.
medichelpline will continue to monitor developments and report on official statements, court proceedings, and actions announced by medical associations.