By Barsha Misra
Copyright medicaldialogues
Mumbai: The protest against the State Government’s decision to register the CCMP-qualified homoeopathic doctors with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), Mumbai, is now escalating further.Opposing the Government’s decision on the issue, the doctors under the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), BMC MARD and ASMI held a peaceful black ribbon protest on Tuesday.In a joint Press Release dated 16.09.2025, the doctors referred to the Maharashtra Medical Council’s recent decision to allow homeopathic practitioners with a six-month CCMP course to register under the MMC and mentioned in the release, “This move undermines years of rigorous allopathic training, threatens patient safety, and compromises the credibility of evidence-based medicine. Such a decision is nothing less than an act of playing with public health – in effect, playing with people’s lives – and therefore demands our strongest collective opposition.””In response, Central MARD, BMC MARD and ASMI will hold a peaceful symbolic protest on 16th September 2025, during duty hours, by wearing black ribbons on the arm. The protest will be silent, dignified, and without disruption to patient care. We urge all MBBS students, Interns, Resident Doctors, Faculty members and Hospital staff to join in solidarity to safeguard medical standards and protect public health,” the release further added.Meanwhile, the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has already announced to hold a token strike tomorrow, i.e., on 18.09.2025. The doctors under the Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctor Association have also decided to join the token strike on Thursday by withdrawing from all elective services on that day.Also Read: Maha Medical Council told to register CCMP-qualified homeopaths, doctors cry foul”If the Government does not reverse this decision immediately, all senior resident doctors across government and corporate medical colleges in Maharashtra will also join the one day token strike, with withdrawal from all elective services on 18th September 2025. Let it be noted clearly – the responsibility for the disruption of services will lie solely with the Government if this regressive and hazardous decision is not withdrawn at once,” the association announced in a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavisji.They have demanded an immediate withdrawal of the MMC notice allowing CCMP homoeopaths to get registered. Further, they have sought an assurance that only fully qualified MBBS doctors will be granted licenses to practice modern medicine and there would be no dilution of medical standards under political or administrative pressures.”Healthcare is the backbone of society, and it cannot be compromised for expediency. We urge you to act now before irreparable damage is done to the trust of people and the dignity of the medical profession,” the association has mentioned in the letter.Apart from the senior resident doctors, all the government doctors under the Association of Medical Officers, Maharashtra have also extended their full support to the one-day strike announced by all private doctors of the IMA Maharashtra from 8:00 AM on 18th September 2025 to 8:00 AM on 19th September 2025.The association has apologized to the public for any inconvenience caused by this strike. However, it has clarified that this strike is not for any professional gain of the doctors, but for the safety of the patients. It pointed out how the State has granted permission to the Homoeopathy practitioners registered with CCMP to treat patients using modern medicine (Allopathy), and mentioned that “This decision poses a serious threat to patient safety.””Allowing practitioners with minimal training in allopathy to treat illnesses using allopathic methods is dangerous. As government doctors, our duty is not only to treat patients, but also to safeguard the overall health of the public. That is why we are observing this strike on 18th September — to awaken the government to this critical issue,” the association mentioned in an appeal to the public, while urging the public in general to extend their moral support to the movement.The junior resident doctors under Central MARD have also decided to join the token strike tomorrow, in protest of “this unscientific move”. Issuing a press release today, they have announced that during the strike, routine OPD and elective services will remain suspended. However, emergency services will remain functional, the association has announced.Besides, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has extended full support to the Maharashtra doctors’ strike tomorrow. “Resident doctors across Maharashtra and India stand united in opposing this decision. FAIMA reiterates that only those trained through modern medicine (MBBS and further recognized degrees) should be granted registration in the Medical Council.Issuing a statement on the matter, the President of FAIMA Dr. Akshay Dongardive…
