Over 10,000 BHMS doctors who have completed the CCMP course have threatened a hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan if the Maharashtra Medical Council fails to initiate their registration.

Key Takeaways

  • Over 10,000 BHMS doctors demand immediate MMC registration.
  • Hunger strike planned at Mumbai's Azad Maidan within 8 days.
  • Doctors claim CCMP completion entitles them to legal registration.
  • Critical healthcare providers in tribal and rural areas are affected.

Pune: A major standoff is brewing in Maharashtra's medical sector. The Homeopathy Federation has issued a stern warning that if the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) does not initiate the registration process for practitioners who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), a massive hunger strike will commence at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan within the next eight days.

During a press conference in Pune, coordinator Dr. Chandan Lokhande stated that at least 10,000 practitioners holding Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degrees and having completed the CCMP are facing professional uncertainty. Despite government resolutions (GR) mandating their registration, the MMC has allegedly been stalling the process.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this dispute has profound implications for grassroots healthcare. Approximately 90% of doctors serving in tribal regions, remote villages, and underprivileged urban areas are BHMS graduates. A prolonged strike or legal deadlock could significantly strain the public healthcare infrastructure in these vulnerable zones.

"The delay in registration is not just a bureaucratic hurdle; it is a direct threat to the professional future of thousands of qualified medical practitioners."

Historical Background: In 2014, the Government of Maharashtra established a committee of legal and medical experts to address the integration of modern pharmacology into homeopathic practice. This led to the creation of the one-year CCMP course, which was subsequently approved by both Houses of the State Legislature. While the government issued a formal resolution for registration, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has challenged the course in the Bombay High Court, with a hearing expected in mid-August.

The protesting doctors have alleged that the delay is being orchestrated due to the influence of certain members within the MMC who are associated with the IMA, thereby hindering the progress of BHMS-CCMP graduates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the CCMP course?
A: It is a one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology designed for BHMS doctors to enhance their medical practice within the legal framework.

Q2: Where will the protest take place?
A: The doctors have announced that the hunger strike will be held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

Did You Know?: BHMS doctors often act as the primary healthcare providers in India's most remote and underserved regions.