05 August,2026 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Resident doctors across Maharashtra began an indefinite statewide strike on Wednesday to protest the state government's decision to allow homoeopathy practitioners to register under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and prescribe modern medicines after completing a certification course.
The agitation has been called by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), which has demanded the immediate suspension of the registration process for Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) graduates who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
The protest follows an MMC notification issued on June 30 permitting eligible homoeopathy practitioners to register with the council after completing the six-month CCMP programme.
MARD has argued that the policy should not be implemented until the matter, which is currently pending before the courts, is decided.
Central MARD president Atharva Shinde said the strike began at midnight and that emergency services would continue during the initial 24-hour period in the interest of patient safety.
"The strike commenced at midnight. We will observe the developments today. If the government doesn't initiate a dialogue, we will shut down emergency services after 24 hours," Shinde told PTI.
According to a statement issued by MARD, outpatient departments (OPDs), routine clinical duties, elective procedures and academic activities at government medical college hospitals across Maharashtra have been suspended from Wednesday.
The organisation said emergency and casualty services would continue during the first day of the protest to minimise inconvenience to patients requiring urgent medical care.
MARD said it had held multiple rounds of discussions with the state government and concerned authorities but had not received any assurance regarding the implementation of the BHMS-CCMP policy.
The association has demanded that no registration or implementation under the BHMS-CCMP framework should take place until there is a comprehensive, legally valid, transparent and scientifically supported regulatory mechanism.
It also urged the Maharashtra government to address several long-pending issues concerning resident doctors, including working conditions and service-related demands.
The organisation maintained that the matter requires judicial clarity before any policy changes affecting clinical practice are implemented.
Several medical organisations have extended support to the indefinite strike called by Central MARD.
These include the Indian Medical Association (IMA), BMC MARD, Maharashtra State Resident Doctors Association, Association of State Medical Interns, Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers Group-A and the Maharashtra State Medical Teachers Association.
According to MARD, if no positive resolution emerges, resident doctors will intensify the agitation from August 6 by withdrawing all services, including emergency and casualty care, until further directions are issued by the association.
"The Central MARD reiterates that this agitation is not 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 due legal scrutiny, scientific evaluation, and establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework," the organisation said.
Amid the ongoing controversy, the Mumbai Press Club hosted a discussion on Tuesday involving representatives from the allopathy and homoeopathy communities.
Representing the allopathy side, Jayesh Lele questioned the implications of allowing homoeopathy practitioners to prescribe modern medicines, particularly in cases where patients experience adverse reactions to prescribed treatment. He also pointed out that dual registration for allopathy and homoeopathy practitioners is not followed uniformly across states.
Speaking for the homoeopathy community, Bahubali Shah defended the policy, stating that the move could help address the shortage of doctors in rural areas where access to healthcare professionals remains limited.
(With inputs from PTI)
