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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department has established a seven-member special committee to examine whether homeopathic doctors who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) should be permitted to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and practice modern (allopathic) medicine.
This move follows sustained opposition from allopathic practitioners and political leaders over the parallel entry of homeopathic doctors into the allopathic system. The issue was brought to the forefront during the Maharashtra Assembly session by opposition leader Shri Ambadas Danve, who strongly objected to the inclusion of homeopathic doctors in the MMC through the CCMP route. As a result, the government issued a stay order and tasked the new committee with providing recommendations within two months.
Under current provisions—specifically Section 17 of the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965, and the Maharashtra Homeopathic Practitioners Act, 1959—homeopathic doctors are allowed to practice modern medicine after completing the CCMP. The CCMP course, initiated in 2014 by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, provides homeopathic practitioners with training in allopathic medicine, primarily to serve in public healthcare settings.
The debate over crosspathy—where practitioners of one system of medicine practice another—has been ongoing. In 2017, a notification allowed homeopathy practitioners with certain qualifications to register with the MMC, but this was challenged by the Indian Medical Association and subsequently stayed by the Bombay High Court.
The current committee, headed by the Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and including representatives from MUHS, the MMC, the state health department, and a government medical college in Mumbai, will assess the legal, ethical, and practical implications of allowing such registrations. Their findings are expected to shape future policy on the integration of homeopathic doctors into the allopathic medical system.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available as of July 12, 2025, and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical or legal advice. The situation is evolving, and readers are advised to consult official government notifications or the Maharashtra Medical Council for the latest updates.
