Doctors throughout Maharashtra observed a 24-hour strike on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Their protest was aimed at the state government’s decision to allow homeopathic practitioners who have completed a one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register with the State Medical Council. This registration would permit them to prescribe allopathic medicines.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra president, Dr. Santosh Kadam, reported that approximately 1.8 lakh allopathic doctors across the state, including those in private hospitals, participated in this significant industrial action.
Despite the widespread protest, it was confirmed that all essential emergency and critical healthcare services continued uninterrupted, ensuring patient safety in urgent situations.
The primary concern raised by the medical fraternity is that this decision, allowing homeopaths to prescribe allopathic drugs after a certificate course, poses a severe risk to patient safety and could compromise the overall quality of healthcare services in Maharashtra.
Earlier in the year, the state government had initially instructed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to proceed with the registration of these homeopaths. The intention was to enable them to prescribe certain allopathic medicines for patients in specific medical scenarios.
Initially, this notification faced strong opposition and was subsequently withdrawn. This reversal came after members of the IMA Maharashtra, who had planned a strike on July 11 but postponed it, met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. During the meeting, they articulated their concerns about the potential confusion and risks this policy could create for patients.
However, the government controversially issued a fresh circular on September 5, effectively reactivating the disputed registration process, much to the dismay of allopathic doctors.
This renewed government resolution reignited the protest, leading allopathic practitioners to proceed with their previously planned 24-hour strike.
The strike saw participation from numerous key medical organizations, including resident doctors’ associations from government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation medical colleges, the Federation of All India Medical Association, the Association of State Medical Interns, and the Government Medical College Association, all united in their opposition to the government’s directive.