The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra issued a statement on Friday allowing homeopathy doctors to prescribe allopathic medicines. This has sparked widespread outrage among doctors practicing allopathy. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the apex body of doctors in the state, has strongly condemned this decision and announced plans to challenge the FDA’s move in court.
A few years ago, doctors from the Ayurveda branch had also attempted to practice allopathy through a bridge course. At that time, too, the IMA had taken a firm stand against it. For many years, doctors from other medical disciplines have been lobbying the government for permission to practice allopathy. Several meetings with the health minister had already been held to push this agenda. With the government now approving this, homeopathy doctors have reportedly been granted the opportunity to practice allopathy.
The IMA has consistently opposed crosspathy at the national level. Doctors from each discipline should practice only within their respective fields, conduct research and work toward the development of their branch of medicine. A one-year course like this will produce half-baked doctors, which could cause significant harm to society. Practicing modern medicine requires years of rigorous education.
Dr Santosh Kadam, president, IMA (Maharashtra), said, “When the topic of granting permissions to homeopathy doctors first arose, we had already approached the court, where the matter is currently sub judice. The court did not grant them any permission for such practice but only allowed them to pursue the course. However, the court has not authorized them to practice allopathy. We will now challenge this FDA decision in court as well.”
What is CCMP?
The FDA’s statement mentions that only those who complete a one-year course titled ‘Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology’ (CCMP) will be allowed to practice allopathy. This course was designed by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. After completing the one-year course, candidates must pass a 200-mark examination. Only those who clear this exam will be permitted to practice allopathy to a limited extent. Currently, this course is offered in 22 government medical colleges across the state. Admissions are conducted through a common entrance test by the university. Each college admits 50 to 75 students to the course. Subjects taught in this program include Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Chemical Pathology, along with training in basic diagnostic procedures.
