Resident doctors across Maharashtra have called off their indefinite strike after the Bombay High Court directed them to immediately resume duties, citing concerns over the impact of the protest on patient care.
The strike, led by the Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), began on August 5 in opposition to the state government’s decision allowing BHMS graduates who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and prescribe certain allopathic medicines.
In an official statement, Central MARD 2026-27 announced the withdrawal of the statewide agitation, emphasizing that the decision was taken solely in compliance with the Bombay High Court’s directions.
“Central MARD 2026-27 hereby announces the withdrawal of the ongoing statewide indefinite agitation, which was launched in protest against the proposed implementation of the BHMS-CCMP framework without an appropriate legal and regulatory mechanism,” the association stated.
During the hearing, the Bombay High Court expressed concern over the disruption of healthcare services caused by the strike and ordered resident doctors to immediately return to work.
Following the court’s directive, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the state government would adhere to the High Court’s directions regarding the issue.
The controversy stems from a recent Maharashtra government order permitting CCMP-qualified homoeopathic practitioners to be registered in a separate register under the MMC. The move has drawn strong opposition from resident doctors and the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which argue that it could compromise patient safety and blur the distinction between different systems of medicine.
With the strike now withdrawn, healthcare services at government and several civic-run hospitals across Maharashtra are expected to return to normal.
