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The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has recently notified to allow practitioners of homeopathy to prescribe modern medicines after a six-month pharmacology course.
The government has directed all qualified doctors (after completing Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology or CCMP) to register under MMC for which MMC is launching a portal on its website for the registration process.
However, experts have gathered their concerns regarding the potential implications of this decision. Pavan Choudary, Chairman & Director General, The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said, "While acknowledging the intent to broaden healthcare access, it's crucial to consider the fundamental differences in the core training methodologies and philosophies of homeopathy and allopathy. Homeopathy, with its core principle of 'Similia similibus curentur' (like cures like), operates on a distinctly different philosophical and curricular foundation than allopathy. Allopathic medical professionals, in contrast, undergo extensive education spanning several years, with a deep emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, and evidence-based medicine.”
"A six-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), while theoretically illuminating, may not adequately bridge this complex, multi-layered educational spectrum," Choudary added.
He also said that this could be particularly problematic in rural, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities, leading to negative public health outcomes. While we do not question the intent, safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of modern medical practice should remain the foremost priorities.
