Maharashtra doctors went on a 24-hour strike on Thursday to protest the government`s decision to allow the registration of homeopathic doctors, who have completed a certificate course in modern pharmacology, in the state medical council, reported news agency PTI.
Nearly 1.8 lakh allopathic Maharashtra doctors, including in private hospitals, were participating in the strike, Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra president Dr Santosh Kadam claimed.
However, all emergency and critical services were continuing.
The doctors` body has claimed the decision (registration of certified homeopaths) poses a serious threat to the safety of patients and quality of healthcare services, reported PTI.
Dr Akshay Dongardive, president of the Federation of All India Medical Associations, warned that doctors will launch a nationwide agitation, even taking to the streets to tell the public about the “risks”, if the government does not roll back its decision.
In a letter to the CM earlier, the IMA`s Maharashtra unit had argued that the decision would allow “inadequately” trained individuals to treat patients and could lead to misdiagnosis, adverse reactions, antibiotic resistance, and patient deaths, especially in rural areas.
Earlier this year, the state government directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to register homoeopaths who had completed the one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), to allow them to prescribe allopathic medicines to patients in select cases.
The MMC is a government body responsible for the registration, regulation, and ethical conduct of medical practitioners within Maharashtra.
However, the notification was withdrawn after the IMA Maharashtra members, who planned a strike on July 11 but deferred it until further notice, met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and explained about the confusion among patients, reported PTI.
The government issued a fresh circular on September 5, reviving the registration process.
A fresh government resolution (GR) was issued in this regard on September 5, upsetting allopathic practitioners, who decided to go ahead with the 24-hour strike.
All the resident doctors` organisations of government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation medical colleges, the Federation of All India Medical Association, Association of State Medical Interns, and Government Medical College Association are opposing the move and are participating in the strike.
(With inputs from PTI)
