Homeopathy vs modern medicine: Over 500 docs join indefinite strike

Homeopathy doctors across Maharashtra have launched an indefinite hunger strike following the Maharashtra Medical Education Departmentrsquos recent decision to stay its earlier order that allowed homeopathy practitioners to prescribe and practice modern medicine after completing a oneyear certification courseOver 500 homeopathy practitioners from across the state gathered at Mumbairsquos Azad Maidan on Wednesday holding placards and chanting slogans demanding justice and equal rights in medical practice Many have pledged to continue the protest indefinitely unless the government reconsiders its stanceMaharashtra Council of Homeopathy MCH administrator Dr Bahubali Shah who is leading the protest announced that he would be consuming only water until the government reverses the stay order and restores the earlier decisionldquoI will not eat until justice is served We were promised equal rights to serve patients after proper training This rollback is a betrayal to thousands of homeopathy doctors who have completed or are currently pursuing the certification courserdquo Dr Shah told middayMaharashtra Council of Homeopathy MCH administrator Dr Bahubali ShahThe issue stems from a government resolution GR released earlier this year which permitted registered homeopathy doctors to offer modern medicine treatment after undergoing a oneyear bridge course The move was aimed at addressing the severe shortage of MBBS doctors especially in rural and underserved areasHowever the decision received strong opposition from the Indian Medical Association IMA which argued that allowing homeopaths to practice modern medicine could endanger the safety of the patientsIn response the Bombay High Court had already imposed a stay on the matter earlier but the state went ahead and released the GR Now after legal and professional pressure the Directorate of Medical Education amp Research has rolled back the order and formed a committee to examine the matter further The reversal of the order has angered the homeopathy fraternity who feel sidelined and unfairly targetedldquoWe studied for five and a half years then did this additional course as required Still we are treated as secondclass citizens Are we going to kill anyone just because we do not have an MBBS degree but have the necessary education to treat the patientsrdquo questioned Dr Sunita More one of the doctors who had come all the way from Nashik to join the protest in MumbaiThe protest has not yet disrupted outpatient services significantly but with more homeopathy practitioners expected to join in the coming days concerns are being raised about its impact particularly in semiurban and rural clinics where homeopaths often serve as the primary caregiversldquoWe have ensured that none of the hospitals have to be closed or problems are faced just because we are on strike We know the situation of our public healthcare system and so homeopathic doctors across the state will be arriving in batches ensuring that the patients wonrsquot sufferrdquo said Dr ShahHe further stated that though the police have given permission to protest only till Wednesday evening they would continue the protest ldquoI will continue drinking water even in jail in case they arrest me but I wonrsquot back off till our demands are fulfilledrdquo said Dr ShahWhile the medical education department officials havenrsquot taken any step or decision as of now Dr Santosh Kadam president of IMAMaharashtra told midday ldquoHolding a protest is their right But what they are asking for is wrong There is a reason why every medical stream has a specially designed course and eligibility criteria For instance those who wish to pursue MBBS must score more than 50 per cent marks in science chemistry and biology in their Std XII board exams and only then are they eligible to write the NEET exam This 50 per cent marks criterion has been removed for those who wish to become homeopathy doctors What they are asking for is crosspractice which is dangerous for any patient Though they have done the oneyear certification course they are not specialised in modern medicine like MBBS doctors who have studied it for over five yearsrdquo