Over a decade after an amendment paved the way, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has formally allowed homeopathic practitioners to prescribe modern allopathic medicines — provided they complete a six-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
The move, critics say, could have serious consequences for public health.
The controversial decision, which officially comes into effect on July 15, stems from amendments made as far back as 2014 to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act of 1965.
Those changes had enabled homeopaths to prescribe allopathic drugs “under certain conditions”, but legal and regulatory hurdles stalled implementation.
Now, the MMC — currently functioning without an elected medical body since 2022 — has issued a notification permitting registration of homeopaths who complete the CCMP course.
Once registered, they will legally be allowed to prescribe allopathic medication, although the exact scope of their prescribing rights remains under review.
“We received directions from the govt and a clearance from the law and judiciary department regarding the case pending before the court. We will begin registering them starting July 15. Till then, we will be studying what kinds of medicines they will be allowed to prescribe,” said MMC administrator Dr Vinky Rughwani, as quoted by ToI.
IMA calls move a threat to medical standards
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had challenged the 2014 amendments, said this fresh notification has given legal force to what was previously a “toothless” directive.
The Bombay High Court had issued a stay on the earlier move, but since late 2024, efforts had been underway to bypass the court's restraint.
In December 2024, the state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed chemists to supply allopathic medicines to homeopaths who had completed the CCMP — an instruction the IMA objected to, citing jurisdictional overreach.
“FDA is a drug regulator but it does not have the authority to recognise who can practice medicine. That authority lies only with the MMC,” Dr Santosh Kadam, President, IMA Maharashtra, said.
Political will at play?
According to Dr Kadam, the MMC’s new circular now gives “legal weight” to the earlier FDA direction, raising concerns that unqualified practitioners may begin administering allopathic treatments after only a short training stint.
He also alleged political pressure behind the move.
“Both FDA and MMC were pressured to pass such order. Many homeopathic colleges are either owned by or indirectly affiliated with politicians in the state,” Dr Santosh Kadam told TOI.
The MMC’s decision followed a February 2025 meeting between state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, BJP MLA Randhir Sawarkar, MMC representatives, and homeopathy associations, where it was agreed that the 2014 amendment would finally be implemented.
(With inputs from ToI)
The move, critics say, could have serious consequences for public health.
The controversial decision, which officially comes into effect on July 15, stems from amendments made as far back as 2014 to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act of 1965.
Those changes had enabled homeopaths to prescribe allopathic drugs “under certain conditions”, but legal and regulatory hurdles stalled implementation.
Now, the MMC — currently functioning without an elected medical body since 2022 — has issued a notification permitting registration of homeopaths who complete the CCMP course.
Once registered, they will legally be allowed to prescribe allopathic medication, although the exact scope of their prescribing rights remains under review.
“We received directions from the govt and a clearance from the law and judiciary department regarding the case pending before the court. We will begin registering them starting July 15. Till then, we will be studying what kinds of medicines they will be allowed to prescribe,” said MMC administrator Dr Vinky Rughwani, as quoted by ToI.
IMA calls move a threat to medical standards
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had challenged the 2014 amendments, said this fresh notification has given legal force to what was previously a “toothless” directive.
The Bombay High Court had issued a stay on the earlier move, but since late 2024, efforts had been underway to bypass the court's restraint.
In December 2024, the state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed chemists to supply allopathic medicines to homeopaths who had completed the CCMP — an instruction the IMA objected to, citing jurisdictional overreach.
“FDA is a drug regulator but it does not have the authority to recognise who can practice medicine. That authority lies only with the MMC,” Dr Santosh Kadam, President, IMA Maharashtra, said.
Political will at play?
According to Dr Kadam, the MMC’s new circular now gives “legal weight” to the earlier FDA direction, raising concerns that unqualified practitioners may begin administering allopathic treatments after only a short training stint.
He also alleged political pressure behind the move.
“Both FDA and MMC were pressured to pass such order. Many homeopathic colleges are either owned by or indirectly affiliated with politicians in the state,” Dr Santosh Kadam told TOI.
The MMC’s decision followed a February 2025 meeting between state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, BJP MLA Randhir Sawarkar, MMC representatives, and homeopathy associations, where it was agreed that the 2014 amendment would finally be implemented.
(With inputs from ToI)
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