OPDs across Maharashtra are expected to shut from 8:00 am IST on September 18 to 8:00 am IST on September 19, as IMA-affiliated doctors protest the state’s move to register BHMS+CCMP practitioners with the Maharashtra Medical Council; emergency services are expected to remain operational, say associations.
1) What’s happening—at a glance
- Who’s striking? Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra, backed by resident-doctor bodies (MARD) and multiple city associations; participation claims range from 1.0–1.8 lakh allopathic doctors statewide.
- When? 24 hours from 8 am, Thu, Sept 18 → 8 am, Fri, Sept 19 (IST).
- What’s affected? OPDs and many elective procedures; hospitals have drawn up contingency rosters. Emergency/ICU/critical care to continue, according to organizers.
- Why the strike? Protest against registering homeopathy graduates (BHMS) who complete a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), enabling limited modern-medicine practice under SOPs.
2) The core dispute: CCMP & “mixopathy”
The flashpoint is the state’s decision—communicated via government circulars and MMC implementation—to register BHMS doctors who have completed a one-year CCMP so they may prescribe select allopathic drugs under defined protocols. Supporters argue this widens access in underserved areas; allopathic bodies call it “mixopathy” that risks patient safety and blurs accountability between systems.
IMA Maharashtra and allied groups say the move dilutes standards, contravenes the spirit of professional separation across medical systems, and may conflict with regulatory norms. The associations staged black-ribbon protests earlier this week and escalated to today’s token strike after registration began.
3) What will patients experience today? (Practical guide)
- OPDs: Expect closures at many private hospitals/clinics and possible thinning of staff in government facilities. Call ahead to confirm.
- Elective procedures: Non-urgent surgeries and procedures are likely to be postponed; hospitals have alerted patients by SMS/calls where possible.
- Emergency services: Most organizers say ER, ICU, trauma, dialysis and other life-saving services will function; however, individual facilities may vary—check hospital advisories.
- Pharmacies/diagnostics: Generally open; delays possible around hospital-attached units.
4) Voices & numbers
- IMA Maharashtra leaders (including Dr. Santosh Kadam) have claimed ~1.8 lakh participants, with support from MARD and city associations; media tallies indicate substantial statewide participation, including Mumbai–Pune–Nagpur clusters.
- City editions report widespread OPD shutdowns and thousands of practitioners joining, with some districts projecting 2,000–2,500 elective procedures deferred for the day.
5) Why the state says it moved ahead
Government and MMC officials have argued that CCMP-registered BHMS practitioners would operate under standard operating procedures and defined limits, helping augment primary care where MBBS availability is thin—especially in rural/underserved belts. MMC has also indicated it will publish SOPs clarifying scope.
6) Safety, regulation & accountability—key concerns
Allopathic bodies cite risks around:
- Diagnostic accuracy and polypharmacy when training is mismatched to practice.
- Liability: Who is accountable under negligence if cross-system care goes wrong?
- Regulatory coherence between National Medical Commission norms and state-level registrations.
They also emphasize that bridge courses cannot substitute multi-year MBBS training. (Background coverage across outlets reflects this divide.)
7) How we got here: a short timeline
- June–July 2025: Debate surges as state signals intent; IMA flags concerns; July 11 token strike announced as first escalation.
- Early Sept 2025: New circular/GR and operational push at MMC; registration portal prep begins.
- Sept 16–17, 2025: Black-ribbon protests, city-level mobilization; reports say MMC starts registrations; strike call firmed for Sept 18.
- Sept 18, 2025 (today): 24-hour token strike from 8 am; OPDs shut widely; emergency to run.
8) What could happen next
- Talks & tweaks: Government could explore narrower SOPs, tighter supervision, and clearer referral protocols to defuse safety concerns.
- Wider agitation: Associations have warned of broader actions if the registration move isn’t revisited.
- Litigation watch: With stakes high, court challenges (scope/validity of registration powers) are plausible.
9) The bigger picture: access vs standards
Maharashtra’s row spotlights a national dilemma: How do you expand basic care without eroding standards? One camp prioritizes access and pragmatic task-sharing; the other insists quality and training rigor must not bend. The state’s experiment with CCMP may well become a test case for other states—what SOPs look like, how strictly they’re enforced, and whether outcomes justify the risk.
10) Advice for readers (shareable checklist)
- Have an appointment today? Call your hospital/clinic first.
- Need non-urgent care? Consider teleconsults or reschedule to Friday/Saturday.
- Emergency? Proceed to the nearest ER; keep ID, prior prescriptions, and reports handy.
- Medications/tests? Retail pharmacies and independent diagnostics are generally unaffected.
#IMAMaharashtra #DoctorsStrike #Healthcare #PatientSafety #MARD #Maharashtra #MMC #CCMP
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