Homoeopaths can practise general medicine

The state Medical Education and Drugs Department’s September 27 notification, enabling homoeopathic doctors to practise modern medicine, is not being welcomed by the medical fraternity. Furious over the government’s move, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has decided to challenge it in Bombay High Court. There are already two cases pending before the HC on similar grounds.

According to the notification, doctors who obtained the Licentiate of the Court of Examiners of Homeopathy (LCEH) degree from 1951-1982, can register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

Any person registered with the MMC is allowed to practise modern scientific medicine.

Dr Jayesh Lele, former president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) said that the notification contradicts the centre’s policy. “Also, there are two cases already pending in court pertaining to allowing homoeopathy doctors to practise modern medicine. When the matter is sub judice, how can the state come up with such a notification?” he averred. He further stated that the body is prepared to challenge this notification in High Court and a new case will be filed in the coming week.

With fewer checks and the rising incidents of cross pathy where doctors indulge in prescribing homoeopathy and ayurvedic drugs along with allopathy medicines, medical practitioners have been demanding stringent laws to control the abuse of patients. Unless any mishap occurs, such malpractices go unchecked.

Hence, the IMA is worried that with the new notification, homoeopathy doctors without LCEH degree, might also misuse it.

Dr Suhas Pingle, former member of MMC said, “If homoeopathic practitioners are trained in one type of medicine, how can they practise modern medicine which they are not trained for?”

He added, “It is time that patients became more aware doctor’s qualifications. Believing blindly on any such qualification will only lead to a medical disaster.”