Why MBBS Doctors Are on Strike Over Maharashtra’s Homeopath Registration Order
Pune, 4th August 2026: The Maharashtra government has directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to begin registering BHMS doctors who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) in a separate register, triggering strong opposition from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra. In protest, the association has announced a statewide 24-hour withdrawal of medical services on Tuesday.
The directive was issued through a Government Resolution (GR) on Monday, instructing the MMC to immediately initiate the registration process while complying with the conditions laid down by the Bombay High Court in the ongoing litigation.
MMC Registrar Dr Rakesh Waghmare confirmed that the council has received the government order. According to the GR, amendments made to the relevant legislation in 2014 empowered the council to maintain a separate register for eligible CCMP-qualified practitioners. The resolution further states that registrations will remain subject to the final outcome of Writ Petitions No. 7846 of 2014 and 7847 of 2014 pending before the High Court.
Apart from directing registrations, the government has also asked the MMC to constitute a six-member committee to frame guidelines on the professional competence of CCMP-qualified practitioners, develop standard operating procedures for handling negligence-related complaints, and recommend an ethical framework for their practice. The committee has been asked to submit its report within one month.
MMC Administrator Dr Vinky Rughwani said the council has received the GR and is also aware of the IMA Maharashtra’s decision to withdraw medical services across the state.
The government’s decision comes a day after homeopathy practitioners warned that they would stage a protest outside Mantralaya if the registration process was not initiated.
Meanwhile, the IMA Maharashtra, supported by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), and several specialty medical organisations, has opposed the move, arguing that it could dilute the standards of modern medicine.
IMA Maharashtra President Dr Santosh Kulkarni said the state government had earlier assured the association in 2025 that registrations of CCMP-qualified BHMS practitioners would not proceed until the High Court delivered its verdict. He alleged that the fresh government order contradicts that assurance and raises concerns about patient safety and the integrity of evidence-based medical practice.
In a statement, the IMA said repeated representations made to the government had failed to address the concerns of the medical fraternity. It announced that the protest would begin at 6 am on August 5 and continue until 6 am on August 6, with medical services being withdrawn for 24 hours. The association also warned that the agitation could be intensified if the registration process is implemented before the court’s final decision.
Responding to the protest, Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy Administrator Dr Bahubali Shah said the government has issued clear directions for immediate registration, subject to the pending court proceedings. He added that if the MMC encounters any technical issues while implementing the order, it may communicate them to the Council.
Shah also maintained that the MMC should act in accordance with the government’s instructions and not be influenced by objections raised by private organisations.
