Nearly 4,000 medical officers, over one lakh allopathic doctors affiliated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and thousands of resident doctors across Maharashtra are set to participate in a one-day strike on September 18, raising concerns over disruptions to the state’s healthcare services.

The strike was called in protest against the Maharashtra government’s decision to register BHMS-CCMP practitioners - homeopathy graduates with a certificate in modern pharmacology - under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Doctors’ bodies argue that this move could blur lines of medical accountability and compromise standards of care.

The Association of Medical Officers (AMO) issued a statement on Tuesday evening declaring its support for the strike, emphasizing that the protest was not only about doctors’ professional rights but also about safeguarding public health. The IMA had earlier announced plans for the shutdown, which has since been joined by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC).

The coordinated action is expected to result in the postponement of scheduled surgeries and outpatient services across government and private hospitals in the state. Emergency services, however, are likely to remain operational.

The dispute highlights the longstanding friction between allopathic practitioners and state-level policies integrating AYUSH practitioners into mainstream medical practice. While the government argues that such measures address shortages in healthcare manpower, medical associations maintain that it risks patient safety and dilutes professional standards.

With multiple organizations uniting for this 24-hour strike, the standoff underscores the urgent need for dialogue between policymakers and medical bodies to address workforce challenges without undermining medical governance.