A storm is brewing in Maharashtra’s medical circles as the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have strongly opposed the state government’s decision to grant registration to BHMS doctors who complete a one-year bridge course under the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).

In a recent meeting with Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, the two associations flagged the issue as a “serious risk to public health” and urged immediate intervention.

Concerns Over Patient Safety

Doctors underlined that the CCMP course was originally designed only as a knowledge-enhancement program and was never intended to make homeopathy practitioners eligible for registration with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

“Someone who undergoes just a one-year bridge course cannot be equated with an MBBS graduate, who undergoes five years of medical education followed by three years of residency,” the associations pointed out. They stressed that inadequate training in diagnosis, emergency management, and complication handling could endanger patients’ lives.

Medical Standards at Stake

MARD and FAIMA warned that this move dilutes the standards of medical education in India, undermining the rigorous pathways followed by modern medicine practitioners. They called it an attempt to blur boundaries between different systems of medicine, a step that could have disastrous consequences for healthcare delivery.

Legal and Ethical Questions

The groups also cited legal and constitutional concerns, noting that the decision runs contrary to the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and defies Supreme Court directions against “cross-pathy”—the practice of one system of medicine prescribing treatments from another.

Call for Action

Both MARD and FAIMA urged the government to withdraw the decision immediately, stressing that the move is not just about professional dignity but about safeguarding the lives of patients who trust the healthcare system.

With growing outrage among medical students, young doctors, and professional associations, the debate around CCMP registration is fast becoming a flashpoint in the state’s healthcare policy—one that could have far-reaching consequences for medical education and patient safety in India.