The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), Mumbai, has strongly opposed a recent decision by the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) that allows homoeopathic doctors to register under its body and practice modern medicine after completing a short certification course. Medical experts have called the move unethical, unsafe, and a serious risk to public safety.
In a strongly worded statement, AMC Mumbai expressed deep concern over the MMC’s notification permitting homoeopathic doctors who complete a six-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register under the MMC, a council meant solely for MBBS and above qualified doctors.
“This is not just an administrative error, it’s a medical disaster in the making,” said Dr Rajeev B Agarwal, President, AMC Mumbai. “Equating a part-time course with a full-fledged MBBS degree is dangerous. It puts patient safety, public trust, and the integrity of the medical profession at risk.”
Why doctors are protesting the move
The AMC has listed several key reasons for its opposition to the MMC decision:
- Violation of MMC’s Core Role: The MMC was set up to regulate only allopathic practitioners. Including homoeopaths goes against their legal and professional mandate.
- Crosspathy Concerns: Homoeopathy falls under a separate regulatory body, the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy. Letting homoeopaths prescribe allopathic medicine creates overlap and confusion, undermining the sanctity of both systems.
- Inadequate Training: The CCMP is a six-month course held once a week for a few hours. Experts argue that this cannot replace the 5.5 years of rigorous MBBS training, which includes clinical rotations, emergency care exposure, and ethical practice.
- Public Health Risk: Experts warn that allowing underqualified individuals to prescribe potent drugs could lead to medical errors, misdiagnosis, and adverse drug reactions.
“This notification legalises quackery,” said Dr Prashant Kerkar, Hon. Secretary, AMC Mumbai. “We will be held responsible when untrained individuals cause medical mishaps. The state must act to protect patients.”
Legal and ethical red flags
The matter is not just medical, it’s legal too. A similar issue has been under consideration in the Bombay High Court since 2014. According to the court’s order in Writ Petition No. 7847 of 2014, all admissions to the CCMP course are subject to final court orders.
“This decision may amount to contempt of court,” said Dr Mukesh Gupta, Chairperson – Media and Communication Cell, AMC. “Even the Central Council of Homoeopathy had objected to such a crossover back in 2014. No progressive health system permits this kind of crosspathy.”
The rural doctor shortage argument: A myth?
One reason often cited for such measures is the supposed shortage of MBBS doctors in rural areas. But AMC leaders say this is a myth, and the problem lies in poor administrative planning.
- Thousands of MBBS graduates are awaiting mandatory rural postings.
- Maharashtra reportedly needs around 4,000 MBBS doctors in Primary Health Centres.
- Yet, many vacancies remain unfilled, not due to a lack of doctors, but systemic inefficiencies.
“We have a surplus of doctors ready to serve,” Dr Agarwal said. “The government must fix its deployment system instead of diluting healthcare standards.”
What the AMC wants
The AMC has called for three urgent actions:
- Immediate withdrawal of the MMC notification allowing CCMP-qualified homoeopaths to register.
- A firm declaration that MMC will remain the sole authority for allopathic registration.
- Preservation of public health by upholding ethical and legal standards in medical training.
If these demands are not met, the AMC has warned of democratic protests, including dharnas and legal action.
“This is not about one profession against another,” Dr Gupta clarified. “We respect homoeopathy within its own framework. But crosspathy blurs lines and puts lives at risk. The government must act responsibly.”
With growing public scrutiny and concern from the medical community, the focus is now on the MMC and the Maharashtra government.
