The Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine (MCIM) has issued guidelines linking Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs with the five-year renewal of registration of Ayurvedic (BAMS) and Unani (BUMS) doctors, prompting accusations from practitioners that the move is leading to commercial exploitation.
According to the guidelines, professionals must earn 50 CME credit points in each five-year renewal cycle. Of these, at least 30 credits must be obtained through an online CME platform affiliated with MCIM, operated by a single private company, at a cost of Rs 600 per session. Doctors must also earn a minimum of six credits per year through the same platform.
However, a group of doctors under the banner of the Forum Against Commercialization of Education has alleged that the policy effectively forces professionals to pay for CME through a single provider linked to MCIM, despite the availability of multiple free and low-cost educational platforms.
“Doctors welcome CME because it helps improve clinical knowledge and skills. What we oppose is that it is collected for credit only through an MCIM-affiliated company, and at such high rates, when quality CME is available for free on multiple platforms,” said Dr. Vivek Korde, founder and president of the Forum. The group has written to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking intervention.
The controversy has been further fueled by apparent contradictions between the MCIM circular and statements made by its officials. While the circular states that professionals will not be eligible for renewal of registration without completing the prescribed CME credits, MCIM officials have said that CME cannot be made mandatory under the existing law.
MCIM administrator Dr Raman Ghugralekar told The indian express that there is no legal provision in the Maharashtra Doctors Act, 1961 linking completion of CME with renewal of registration for Ayurvedic and Unani doctors. “The guidelines are issued in accordance with the centrally issued instructions on CME for Indian medical professionals. However, until the law is amended, CME cannot be made mandatory for renewal of registration,” it said.
Doctors, however, argue that the wording of the circular creates pressure and confusion among professionals, making CME mandatory in practice, if not in law. They have demanded that MCIM remove the clause requiring credits from a single affiliated platform and ensure transparency in CME accreditation.