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🇮🇳 India /Health & Science

Maharashtra resident doctors begin indefinite strike over homoeopathy registration issue

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Resident doctors in Maharashtra, India, began an indefinite strike on Wednesday over the registration of homeopaths.
  • The strike protests the government's decision allowing homeopaths to prescribe allopathic medicines after a six-month course.
  • Emergency services will continue for 24 hours, but OPD and routine services are suspended; other medical associations support the strike.

Resident doctors across Maharashtra have launched an indefinite statewide strike, protesting a government decision that permits homeopaths to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council and prescribe modern allopathic medicines. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) initiated the strike at midnight on Wednesday.

The core of the protest lies in the government's notification on June 30, which allows individuals with a Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree to prescribe allopathic drugs after completing a six-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology. MARD is demanding the immediate suspension of this registration process until a final court verdict is reached.

The strike commenced at midnight. We will observe the developments today. If the government doesn't initiate a dialogue, we will shut down emergency services after 24 hours.

— Atharva ShindeCentral MARD president, speaking on the first day of the strike.

Central MARD president Atharva Shinde stated that if the government does not engage in dialogue, emergency services will be withdrawn after the initial 24-hour period. During this initial phase, emergency and casualty services are being maintained for patient safety, but outpatient departments (OPD), routine duties, and academic activities at government medical college hospitals have been suspended.

The strike has garnered widespread support from various medical bodies, including the Indian Medical Association and other resident doctors' associations. MARD emphasizes that the agitation is not against any specific medical system but aims to ensure that policies impacting patient care undergo rigorous legal scrutiny and scientific evaluation before implementation.

The Central MARD reiterates that this agitation is not against any system of medicine or its practitioners. The movement is solely aimed at ensuring that any policy affecting patient care is implemented only after due legal scrutiny, scientific evaluation, and establishment of an appropriate regulatory mechanism.

— Central MARDIn a statement explaining the purpose of the strike.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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