by: arvind jadhav
Mumbai: A group of approximately 30000 homeopathic practitioners initiated a three-day hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The protest was led by Bahubali Shahi, administrator of the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy.
The Maharashtra United Homoeopathic Doctors Front (MUHDF) was demonstrating against the withdrawal of their registration under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) by the state government and the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The controversy stems from the MMC’s previous decision to permit homeopathic practitioners to register and practice allopathic medicine upon completion of a certificate course in modern pharmacology (CCMP).
This decision was met with opposition from organizations like the IMA and the Maharashtra Senior Residents Doctors Association (MSRDA), citing concerns over public health safety. Following their objections, the MMC withdrew its decision, prompting homeopathic physicians to demand reinstatement of the original ruling. Over 60 homoeopathy colleges across Maharashtra expressed solidarity with the protest.
Dr Suresh Kalburgi, a homeopathic practitioner, stated that the hunger strike aims to push the government to reinstate a circular allowing homeopaths to prescribe modern medicine and to stop discrimination by the IMA under the guise of public health concerns. Pramod B Jain, a family physician, highlighted the role of homeopaths as primary healthcare providers in rural and semi-urban areas, emphasizing their need for recognition.
The state government has established a committee to address concerns raised by homeopathic doctors regarding the notification allowing homeopathy practitioners to register with the MMC after completing CCMP. The registration process has been suspended pending the committee’s report, which is expected within two months.
