Resident Doctors Oppose Inclusion of BHMS Doctors with CCMP in Maharashtra Medical Council
Pune/Mumbai, 13th September 2025: The Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD), along with BMC MARD, has strongly objected to the decision to allow BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery) doctors holding the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to be registered under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).
In a detailed statement, MARD warned that the move poses grave risks to patient safety and undermines modern medical practice.
Concerns Highlighted by MARD
1. Incomplete and Limited Training
MARD pointed out that CCMP is only a one-year bridge course with two papers—Pharmacology (written and practical, 100 marks) and a combined paper on Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology-Obstetrics, and Community Medicine (written, 50 marks).
“The curriculum is shallow and cannot substitute for the 4.5 years of MBBS study plus internship. It completely skips key subjects like pediatrics, neurology, psychiatry, ENT, dermatology, orthopedics, and radiology,” MARD said, stressing that inadequately trained doctors put patients at risk.
2. Legal and Regulatory Contradictions
BHMS doctors are already registered with the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy (MCH). A second registration with MMC would create dual licensing, MARD argued, adding that this contradicts existing regulations and dilutes the authority of modern medical councils.
3. Violation of NMC Rules
Under National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations, only MBBS and higher medical graduates are permitted to practice modern medicine. “Allowing CCMP holders into MMC is a clear legal violation and goes against national standards,” the association stated.
4. Constitutional and Ethical Issues
MARD also cited constitutional concerns:
Article 14 (Equality before Law): Equating BHMS plus CCMP with MBBS is arbitrary and fails the test of reasonable classification.
Article 21 (Right to Life): The Supreme Court has upheld the right to safe healthcare under this article, which MARD says is endangered by allowing inadequately trained practitioners to treat patients.
5. Misuse of Rural Healthcare Justification
Rejecting the government’s claim that CCMP doctors are needed in rural areas, MARD highlighted that Maharashtra produces more than 10,800 MBBS graduates and 11,000 interns every year. “The real issue is not a shortage of doctors, but mismanagement and poor infrastructure in rural primary health centres,” the group asserted.
6. Threat to Patient Safety
The association warned that CCMP holders lack the clinical experience to manage patients safely and may resort to irrational treatment. “Blending homeopathy with allopathy will erode public trust in modern medicine and devalue the years of rigorous MBBS and postgraduate training,” MARD said.
MARD’s Stand and Next Steps
Complete opposition to the inclusion of BHMS + CCMP doctors in MMC.
Willingness to escalate the issue to the state government, central government, and judiciary.
Plans for public awareness campaigns on the risks of CCMP.
Demand that instead of promoting bridge courses, the government should ensure proper postings of existing MBBS doctors in rural areas.
Call to Action
Central MARD has urged the government to withdraw the decision immediately, calling it a “threat to patient safety, medical ethics, and the integrity of modern medicine.”
The association emphasized that reforms should focus on improving healthcare infrastructure and making full use of the existing pool of MBBS doctors rather than lowering standards through short-term courses.
