Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government has constituted a six-member committee to examine the proposed conditional registration of BHMS doctors who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). The move has intensified an ongoing dispute between practitioners of different systems of medicine, with resident doctors and medical organisations raising concerns over professional boundaries and patient safety.
The committee has been tasked with examining the scope of practice, competencies and ethical framework applicable to BHMS-CCMP practitioners and is expected to submit its recommendations to the State Government within one month.
Six-Member Committee to Examine Registration Framework
According to the Government Resolution issued on August 3, 2026, the committee will examine several aspects related to the proposed conditional registration of BHMS-CCMP doctors.
The panel will primarily focus on:
Defining the competencies and scope of practice of BHMS-CCMP practitioners based on their prescribed curriculum.
Establishing an appropriate ethical framework for their professional practice.
Developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for addressing complaints related to medical negligence involving CCMP-qualified practitioners.
Examining regulatory and professional issues connected with their proposed registration.
The committee will be headed by the Commissioner of Medical Education and Research, Mumbai, with representatives from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Directorate of AYUSH, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy and Maharashtra Medical Council.
The panel has been directed to submit its report and recommendations to the State Government within one month. Further action will be taken based on the committee's recommendations.
Background of the CCMP Controversy
The Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology was introduced through a Maharashtra Government Resolution dated March 13, 2014, through Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik.
The course was designed to provide eligible homoeopathic practitioners with training in aspects of modern medicine, particularly to support healthcare delivery in public health settings.
However, the issue of allowing BHMS practitioners with additional CCMP training to practice modern medicine has remained controversial for several years. A state notification issued in 2017 permitted certain homoeopathic practitioners to practice modern medicine under specified conditions, triggering opposition from sections of the allopathic medical fraternity.
A major point of contention has been whether BHMS-CCMP practitioners should receive registration with the Maharashtra Medical Council, which primarily regulates modern medicine practitioners.
Bombay High Court Order Also Part of the Dispute
The matter has also been subject to judicial proceedings.
The Bombay High Court, in an order dated September 17, 2025, allowed CCMP-qualified candidates to be granted registration, subject to the final outcome of related writ petitions.
Following the court proceedings, the Maharashtra Medical Council was directed to proceed with registration in accordance with the court's directions and subject to the final decision in the matter.
The State Government's latest committee is expected to examine the regulatory framework surrounding the issue while the broader legal dispute continues.
Government Decides to Continue Conditional Registration Process
The latest development follows a meeting held on July 28, 2026, chaired by the Medical Education Minister.
During the meeting, it was decided that the process of conditional registration for BHMS-CCMP doctors would continue while the newly constituted committee examines their competencies, scope of practice and other regulatory aspects.
The development has, however, been strongly opposed by sections of the allopathic medical community.
IMA Maharashtra Opposes Registration
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra State, along with resident doctors and other medical organisations, has expressed strong opposition to the proposed registration of BHMS-CCMP practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council.
The protesting doctors have raised concerns that allowing practitioners trained primarily in homoeopathy to obtain registration under the modern medical council could affect the established regulatory framework governing modern medicine.
They have also expressed concerns about the possible impact on patient safety, professional standards and the scientific foundation of modern medical practice.
Resident Doctors Announce Statewide Protest
The controversy has also resulted in a protest call from the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD).
Central MARD has announced a statewide withdrawal of routine medical services beginning August 5, 2026, in opposition to the proposed MMC registration of BHMS-CCMP practitioners.
During the initial 24-hour period of the protest, emergency, casualty and life-saving medical services are expected to continue, while routine services will be affected.
The resident doctors have demanded that the State Government stop the registration of CCMP-certified BHMS practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council until the court delivers its final verdict on the matter.
Concerns Over Cross-Practice Between Medical Systems
One of the major concerns raised by MARD is the possibility that the registration could establish a precedent for cross-practice between different systems of medicine.
The resident doctors have argued that such a move could blur the statutory boundaries between different medical systems and potentially create implications for patient safety and professional accountability.
The debate centres on whether additional training in modern pharmacology should permit BHMS-qualified practitioners to receive registration under the regulatory framework governing modern medicine.
Resident Doctors Highlight Other Pending Issues
Alongside the BHMS-CCMP registration issue, MARD has also highlighted several unresolved concerns affecting resident doctors across Maharashtra.
These reportedly include:
Pending stipend-related matters
Service conditions
Workplace safety
Academic welfare of resident doctors
The association has therefore linked the ongoing protest to broader concerns surrounding the working and academic environment for resident doctors.
What Happens Next?
The six-member committee is now expected to examine the competencies, permissible scope of practice, ethical requirements and professional accountability of BHMS-CCMP practitioners.
It has one month to submit its report and recommendations to the Maharashtra Government.
The committee's findings could play an important role in determining how conditional registration is regulated and what limitations, responsibilities and safeguards may apply to BHMS-CCMP practitioners.
Meanwhile, opposition from IMA Maharashtra and resident doctors is likely to keep the issue in focus, particularly as the legal proceedings concerning the registration of CCMP-qualified practitioners remain subject to the final outcome of the relevant cases.
Key Takeaway
The Maharashtra Government's decision to form a committee on conditional MMC registration for BHMS-CCMP doctors is the latest development in a long-running dispute over the practice of modern medicine by practitioners trained in another system of medicine. While the government moves toward defining their competencies and regulatory framework, medical organisations and resident doctors continue to oppose the move, citing concerns over professional boundaries, patient safety and statutory regulation.
