Executive Summary:
This document is the Indian Ministry of AYUSH's response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding homoeopathic doctors practicing allopathic medicine after completing a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP). The response clarifies the rationale behind the Maharashtra government's decision to allow this practice, the measures taken to ensure patient safety, and the regulatory safeguards in place. The decision was formalized through legislative amendments in 2014.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Rationale for Allowing Allopathic Practice:**
* The Maharashtra government introduced the CCMP to strengthen public health services in the state.
* Legislative amendments were made to the Maharashtra Homoeopathy Practitioners Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965 in 2014.
* **CCMP Course Details:**
* The CCMP is a one-year course designed for registered homoeopathic practitioners.
* The syllabus was drafted by an expert committee and approved by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik.
* The curriculum includes practical training, laboratory procedures, and rotational hospital training in allopathic clinical subjects.
* The course aims to bridge the gap between homoeopathic and MBBS syllabi.
* Examinations are conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, MUHS, Nashik.
* **Patient Safety and Regulatory Safeguards:**
* Patient safety and treatment efficacy were considered during the design of the CCMP syllabus and legislative amendments.
* Homoeopathic doctors with CCMP certification are expected to provide allopathic treatment only when necessary and within their acquired knowledge.
* Registered homoeopathic doctors are liable for medical negligence or misdiagnosis under Section 10(c) of the MMC Act.
* The government asserts that there is no overlap or conflict between homoeopathic and allopathic treatment methods.
Impact Analysis:
* Patients:
* Impact: Patients in Maharashtra may receive allopathic treatment from homoeopathic doctors with CCMP certification, potentially increasing access to healthcare services, but may also face risks associated with limited training.
* Action Required: Patients should be informed about the qualifications of their healthcare providers and make informed decisions about their treatment options.
* Homoeopathic Doctors in Maharashtra:
* Impact: Registered homoeopathic doctors who complete the CCMP are permitted to practice allopathic medicine to the extent of the knowledge received through the course.
* Action Required: Homoeopathic doctors should complete the CCMP and adhere to the guidelines and limitations set forth by the Maharashtra government and medical council.
* Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC):
* Impact: The MMC is responsible for handling negligence or misdiagnosis cases involving homoeopathic doctors with CCMP certification, similar to allopathic doctors.
* Action Required: The MMC must enforce the regulations and guidelines for CCMP-certified doctors and investigate any complaints of medical negligence or misdiagnosis.
* Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik:
* Impact: MUHS is responsible for designing the CCMP syllabus, conducting examinations, and ensuring the quality of training provided to homoeopathic doctors.
* Action Required: MUHS must continue to update and refine the CCMP syllabus to ensure that it adequately prepares homoeopathic doctors to practice allopathic medicine safely and effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of alternative medicine systems, including Homoeopathy.
Dr. D Ravi Kumar: Member of Lok Sabha who raised questions regarding homoeopathic doctors practicing allopathy.
SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: Minister of State IC of the Ministry of AYUSH who answered the questions in the Lok Sabha.
Homoeopathy: A system of alternative medicine.
Allopathy: Conventional medicine; also referred to as modern medicine.
Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP): A 6-month (later described as one-year) course designed to allow homoeopathic doctors to practice allopathic medicine in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra: An Indian state that has allowed homoeopathic doctors to practice allopathic medicine after completing the CCMP.
Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC): The regulatory body in Maharashtra responsible for medical registration and ethical conduct of doctors.
Maharashtra Homoeopathy Practitioners Act, 1960: A law in Maharashtra, India related to the regulation of homoeopathic practitioners, amended to accommodate the CCMP.
Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965: A law in Maharashtra, India related to the regulation of medical practices, amended to accommodate CCMP.
Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik (MUHS Nashik): The university in Nashik, Maharashtra responsible for designing the CCMP syllabus and conducting examinations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2270
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
Homoeopathy Doctors Practicing Allopathy
2270. Dr. D Ravi Kumar:
Will the Minister of AYUSH
be pleased to state:
(a) the rationale behind allowing homoeopathic doctors to practice allopathic medicine after
completing a 6-month Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP);
(b) the corrective measures put in place to ensure patient's safety and treatment efficacy given
the Maharashtra Medical Council’s (MMC's) decision to permit homoeopaths to practice
modern medicine;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the risks of medical negligence or misdiagnosis by
practitioners with limited training in allopathy through the CCMP and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any regulatory safeguards exist to prevent overlap and conflict between
homoeopathic and allopathic treatment methods following the MMC's new directive; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The subject “Public Health” is a State subject. As per the information provided by the State
Government of Maharashtra, the rationale behind allowing the homoeopathic doctors to
practice allopathic medicine after completion of the CCMP Course is to strengthen the health
services being rendered to the public in the State. The step of introducing the CCMP Course
was taken by the State Government of Maharashtra in the year 2014 by getting Legislation
passed in both the State Legislative Houses and by making amendments in the Maharashtra
Homoeopathy Practitioners’Act, 1960 and Maharashtra Medical Council Act,1965 vide Gazette
dated 25.6.2014 (copy enclosed as ‘Annexure’). The Certificate Course in Modern
Pharmacology (CCMP) designed for Registered Homoeopathic practitioners is of one-year
duration, which was drafted by the Expert Committee of Board of Clinical Medicine and passedby the Faculty of Medicine and Academic Council of Maharashtra University of Health
Sciences, Nashik. The One-year Course was designed after the comparative study of
Homoeopathic syllabus and MBBS syllabus, and to bridge the gap in Homoeopathic syllabus
and to make the registered Homoeopathic doctors competent to practice Allopathy. The Course
includes practical and training in laboratory procedures along with rotational hospital training
in all clinical subject of Allopathy. This Course is run in Government and private medical
colleges and the examination is conducted by the faculty of Medicine, MUHS, Nashik.
(b) to (e) The safety of the patients and the treatment efficacy and all other factors were duly
considered while designing the CCMP syllabus by MUHS Nashik and by the State Government
while making the amendments in the Maharashtra Homoeopathy Practitioners’ Act ,1960 and
Maharashtra Medical Council Act,1965. The registered Homoeopathic doctors upon
completion of the CCMP Course will provide Allopathic treatment to the patients only when it
is needed and to the extent of the knowledge received by passing the CCMP Course. In case of
any negligence or mis-diagnosis by a registered Homoeopathic doctor who has completed
CCMP Course, he/she is liable to face enquiry under the Section 10 (c) of MMC Act just like
any Allopathic doctor. Hence, the question of overlap/conflict between homoeopathic and
allopathic treatment methods does not arise.
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