Maharashtra awaits HC verdict on CCMP bridge course for BHMS doctors to prescribe allopathic medicines

The Maharashtra government is awaiting the final court order on the issue of allowing homoeopathy doctors to prescribe certain allopathic medicines. Nearly 8,000 practitioners have completed the mandatory bridge course, but certification is pending due to the ongoing case in the Bombay High Court.

The Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) was introduced to address the shortage of MBBS doctors in rural and remote areas of Maharashtra. The programme allows doctors who have completed the five-and-a-half-year BHMS degree to take up an additional one-year course to gain limited knowledge of prescribing certain allopathic medicines when necessary.

Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal stated that 33 institutions are providing the training, and about 2,182 doctors have registered on the online portal created by the government. However, no certificates have been issued to them yet due to the pending court order.

The initiative aims to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas and ensure basic healthcare services for the public. The state government has implemented the registration process in accordance with the high court's interim directions and will take further steps only after the final verdict.

Importance for Students:

This development is crucial for students pursuing BHMS courses, as it may impact their ability to prescribe allopathic medicines in the future. The outcome of the court case will determine the fate of the CCMP bridge course and its implications for homoeopathy practitioners in Maharashtra.