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Maharashtra Medical Fraternity Against BHMS MMC Registration and Planning for a Statewide Strike
Maharashtra's healthcare system is facing yet another conflict as major medical unions now include the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), and the Junior Doctors Network (JDN) against the state's decision to allow the registration of BHMS practitioners with the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). All mentioned unions have announced a probable statewide strike while suspending both OPD and emergency medical services if the registrations are processed before the Bombay High Court makes a decision.
This issue is focused on the Maharashtra Government allowing MMC registration to BHMS practitioners who have completed the CCMP course, and the practitioners will be allowed to practice portions of modern medicine. Allopathic practitioners are arguing that this issue is still in the court system and should not be allowed to be enacted until the judicial system has issued its final decision.
What is the reason behind the doctors' opposition to this proposal?
Medical bodies believe the law will be ambiguous and lead to a decline in standards of the profession if practitioners of BHMS-CCMP are allowed to register with the MMC without a final ruling. According to the IMA Maharashtra, the issue is currently sub judice in the Bombay High Court, where the next hearings are scheduled for the 13th and 14th of August, 2026, and the IMA is requesting the state government halt the registration until the court passes its order.
The IMA also states there are no sufficient legal requirements for dual or permanent registration of BHMS-CCMP practitioners in the allopathic medical register, therefore making it unnecessary and unable to be applied.
Statewide Strike Warning
The IMA, MARD and JDN state that if the registration is pursued by the Maharashtra government, all doctors from that state will cease OPD services and increase the level of protest. The bodies have stated that if the level of protest is not brought to a halt, emergency services will be impacted, and negotiations with the government will cease. Healthcare management is attempting to prevent a crisis by transporting delegates from both the medical and homeopathic associations.
Government Calls High-Level Meeting
The Maharashtra government, in an effort to quell the growing disparities between both bodies, has summoned a high-level meeting.
The meeting will focus on the legal, administrative, and policy considerations for granting MMC registration to eligible BHMS-CCMP practitioners. According to reports, 2,000 registration requests have already been submitted to the Maharashtra Medical Council.
The government has said it aims to promote discussions and achieve a solution that is agreeable to all parties while remaining inactive.
What Is the CCMP Programme?
The CCMP Programme offers a certificate in modern pharmacology and is a new course to train selected BHMS practitioners in modern pharmacology. Supporters of the CCMP Programme claim that the programme increases healthcare options and access for underserved regions. Opponents of the CCMP Programme claim that the practice of modern medicine should be left to practitioners who have formal medical qualifications and training as an Allopathic physician, such as an MBBS.
Legal Battle Continues
The CCMP Programme has become a legal and professional problem. Although medical associations claim that the introduction of a registration system before the High Court decision could create a regulatory mess, AYUSH and homeopathy associations claim that the government should recognize CCMP-qualified practitioners, as the government introduced the CCMP Programme through a government policy.
The decision will likely impact the future of the regulation of healthcare and the licensing of healthcare practitioners in the state of Maharashtra.
Impact on Patients
If negotiations fail, the proposed strike will impact residents of Maharashtra by limiting outpatient services and elective healthcare services.
The government aims to avoid this by facilitating discussions with all parties prior to a large-scale protest occurring. Negotiations are ongoing, and normal healthcare services are being offered.
Final Thoughts
In recent years, the registration of BHMS-CCMP practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has become one of the most crucial healthcare policy debates in the state. The Bombay High Court has not delivered its judgment, and the state and medical bodies remain in a precarious situation. Through court decision or policy dialogue, the future of professional regulation and integrated medical practice will be defined.
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