Maharashtra’s Bold Move: State Medical Council Allows Homeopathic Doctors to Prescribe Allopathic Medicines After 6-Month Course
In a controversial decision that has sparked debate among medical professionals, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has announced that homeopathic practitioners who complete a six-month pharmacology course will soon be allowed to prescribe modern (allopathic) medicines. The move, set to take effect from July 15, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which warns of potential risks to public health.
The Controversial Decision
The MMC recently issued a notification permitting homeopaths who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register with the council. Once registered, these practitioners will be legally authorized to prescribe certain allopathic drugs—though the exact scope of permitted medicines and treatments remains undecided.
Click here to read the MMC notification in this regard
This decision stems from a 2014 amendment to the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Practitioners Act and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965, which initially allowed homeopaths to prescribe select modern medicines, including sedatives, antibiotics, and antimalarials, after completing the CCMP. However, the IMA challenged the amendment in court, leading to a Bombay High Court stay order.
Despite the pending legal battle, recent government directives have pushed the MMC to implement the policy.
Medical and Legal Concerns
In December 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) further complicated matters by instructing pharmacists to sell allopathic drugs to homeopaths with CCMP certification—a directive the IMA argues exceeds the FDA’s authority.
Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) states that the council is following government orders and legal clearances. However, medical professionals argue that six months of pharmacology training is insufficient compared to the years of rigorous education allopathic doctors undergo.
Medical Body Writes to CM Fadnavis, Demands Reversal of MMC’s Decision
The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) Mumbai, a prominent body representing over 16,000 allopathic doctors, has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging immediate intervention to revoke the MMC’s decision allowing homeopaths to prescribe allopathic medicines.
In the letter dated July 5, 2025, the AMC highlighted four major concerns:
- Violation of MMC’s Mandate – The council was established solely to regulate allopathic (MBBS and above) practitioners, not homeopaths.
- Regulatory Overlap – Homeopaths are governed by the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy, and merging roles risks legal and ethical conflicts.
- Inadequate Training – A six-month pharmacology course (CCMP) cannot replace the 5.5 years of rigorous MBBS training, raising risks of misdiagnosis and drug misuse.
- Patient Safety Threat – Allowing underqualified practitioners to prescribe allopathic drugs could lead to antibiotic resistance, incorrect dosages, and treatment failures.
The AMC warned of large-scale protests if the decision is not reversed, stating, “This move erodes public trust and endangers lives.”
The letter underscores growing resistance from the medical fraternity, adding pressure on the government to reconsider the controversial policy.
Click here to read the letter written to CM by The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) Mumbai
Public Health at Risk?
The IMA warns that allowing homeopaths to prescribe allopathic medicines without comprehensive training could lead to misdiagnosis, incorrect dosages, and antibiotic resistance—posing serious risks to patients.
With the MMC proceeding with registrations starting July 15, the legal battle continues, leaving the future of cross-practice regulations uncertain.
