Homoeopath body threatens to take measures ‘more rigorous than going on strike’; the practitioners have declared that they will wait only until Tuesday evening for a response from the chief minister’s office
Bahubali Shah of the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy (white shirt, centre) and others protest at Azad Maidan. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
The standoff between homoeopathy practitioners and the state government has come to a head. Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy (MCH) administrator Bahubali Shah told mid-day that the state government should take its statement as an ultimatum and take serious note of their demand to be allowed to practise modern medicine.
The practitioners have declared that they will wait only until Tuesday evening for a response from the chief minister’s office, failing which they will launch what they describe as “stringent measures, more rigorous than going on strike”.
Homoeopaths had gone on a hunger strike after the Maharashtra Medical Education Department decided to stay an earlier order that allowed homoeopathy practitioners to prescribe and practise modern medicine after completing a one-year certification course. “It was around July 16 when the chief minister had said that an internal committee would be set up to come to a solution, and a response would be given within four days. Keeping faith, we called off the protest. But it has been almost one month now, and we haven’t received any response,” said Shah.
The homoeopathy practitioners have clearly stated that they have been an important part of the medical system and that they have taken the necessary course to practise modern medicine, and, thus, there cannot be any risk to the patients’ lives. “We are already helping doctors with MBBS degrees to treat patients in government hospitals. We have acquired practical knowledge way before taking this one-year course. So, I see no reason to stop us from practising modern medicine,” said a homoeopath.
Stating that he had lost faith in the system, Shah told mid-day, “Earlier, when we were young, protest was the strongest form of changing decisions and achieving justice. But now even hunger strikes are not taken seriously. So, if the government does not take our demands into consideration, despite them being valid and medically correct, we will be forced to do something big. I hope we are not forced to do so, and in case we are, I hope that whatever decision the homoeopaths’ body takes, it will be taken seriously.”
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