Nagpur: Many private allopathic practitioners across the city kept their outpatient departments (OPDs) shut on Wednesday over the Maharashtra govt’s decision allowing homeopathy practitioners to practise modern medicine.Doctors slammed the govt for issuing a Government Resolution (GR) to start registration of BHMS practitioners who completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), alleging the move was hurried despite the matter being scheduled for hearing in court later this month.The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra State also announced the withdrawal of routine medical services across the state from Thursday in support of the Central MARD agitation.The IMA said the protest aims to safeguard patient safety, uphold the quality of healthcare and protect the integrity of modern medical practice. Private practitioners urged the government to address the concerns raised by the IMA and Central MARD to prevent disruption of patient care.Doctors said the policy effectively equates BHMS practitioners with MBBS doctors despite significant differences in training, qualifications and clinical exposure. They noted that MBBS admissions require substantially higher NEET scores than BHMS courses and argued that there is no shortage of qualified practitioners of modern medicine in the country.“Providing six months of theoretical training on selected drugs cannot transform a homeopath into a fully trained allopathic doctor. The adverse consequences of this legislation are likely to outweigh any administrative benefits and may become evident only after five to ten years,” doctors said.A senior orthopaedic surgeon said the country cannot address the shortage of healthcare professionals by lowering professional standards. “A better approach would be a structured three-year bridge programme after a re-entry examination, leading to a separate postgraduate qualification integrating both systems,” he said.A joint sensitisation meeting at GMCH Nagpur brought together SCMC students, interns and resi dent doctors amid the ongoing agi tation. Representatives of Central MARD Maharashtra, MARD GMCH Nagpur, ASMI, IMA Maha rashtra State and IMA Nagpur Branch outlined the movement’s demands and roadmap from Aug 6.
