Protest comes after Maharashtra govt stays homeopathy doctors from practising modern medicine; Indian Medical Association argues they could endanger safety of patients
Homeopathy doctors and resident medical officers protest at Azad Maidan. PICS/ATUL KAMBLE
Homeopathy doctors across Maharashtra have launched an indefinite hunger strike following the Maharashtra Medical Education Department’s recent decision to stay its earlier order that allowed homeopathy practitioners to prescribe and practice modern medicine after completing a one-year certification course.
Over 500 homeopathy practitioners from across the state gathered at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Wednesday, holding placards and chanting slogans demanding justice and equal rights in medical practice. Many have pledged to continue the protest indefinitely unless the government reconsiders its stance.
Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy (MCH) administrator Dr Bahubali Shah, who is leading the protest, announced that he would be consuming only water until the government reverses the stay order and restores the earlier decision.
“I will not eat until justice is served. We were promised equal rights to serve patients after proper training. This rollback is a betrayal to thousands of homeopathy doctors who have completed or are currently pursuing the certification course,” Dr Shah told mid-day.
Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy (MCH) administrator Dr Bahubali Shah
The issue stems from a government resolution (GR) released earlier this year, which permitted registered homeopathy doctors to offer modern medicine treatment after undergoing a one-year bridge course. The move was aimed at addressing the severe shortage of MBBS doctors, especially in rural and underserved areas.
However, the decision received strong opposition from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which argued that allowing homeopaths to practice modern medicine could endanger the safety of the patients.
In response, the Bombay High Court had already imposed a stay on the matter earlier, but the state went ahead and released the GR. Now, after legal and professional pressure, the Directorate of Medical Education & Research has rolled back the order and formed a committee to examine the matter further. The reversal of the order has angered the homeopathy fraternity, who feel sidelined and unfairly targeted.
“We studied for five and a half years, then did this additional course as required. Still, we are treated as second-class citizens. Are we going to kill anyone just because we do not have an MBBS degree but have the necessary education to treat the patients?” questioned Dr Sunita More, one of the doctors who had come all the way from Nashik to join the protest in Mumbai.
The protest has not yet disrupted outpatient services significantly, but with more homeopathy practitioners expected to join in the coming days, concerns are being raised about its impact, particularly in semi-urban and rural clinics where homeopaths often serve as the primary caregivers.
“We have ensured that none of the hospitals have to be closed or problems are faced just because we are on strike. We know the situation of our public healthcare system, and so homeopathic doctors across the state will be arriving in batches, ensuring that the patients won’t suffer,” said Dr Shah.
He further stated that though the police have given permission to protest only till Wednesday evening, they would continue the protest. “I will continue drinking water even in jail in case they arrest me, but I won’t back off till our demands are fulfilled,” said Dr Shah.
While the medical education department officials haven’t taken any step or decision as of now, Dr Santosh Kadam, president of IMA-Maharashtra, told mid-day, “Holding a protest is their right. But what they are asking for is wrong. There is a reason why every medical stream has a specially designed course and eligibility criteria. For instance, those who wish to pursue MBBS must score more than 50 per cent marks in science, chemistry, and biology in their Std XII board exams, and only then are they eligible to write the NEET exam. This 50 per cent marks criterion has been removed for those who wish to become homeopathy doctors. What they are asking for is cross-practice, which is dangerous for any patient. Though they have done the one-year certification course, they are not specialised in modern medicine like MBBS doctors who have studied it for over five years.”
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