The Council of Homeopathic Medicine, West Bengal, has formally cautioned the state government over the unchecked proliferation of unrecognised institutes offering homeopathy and biochemistry courses across West Bengal, warning that several of these establishments are illegally issuing registration numbers to graduates — a power vested exclusively in the Council.

Scale of the Problem

According to the Council, a significant number of unauthorised institutions — many of which allegedly mushroomed during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime — are operating without mandatory recognition from either the Council of Homeopathic Medicine, West Bengal, or the National Commission for Homeopathy. A council insider recently flagged a 'chain of homeopathic and biochemistry colleges' in Cooch Behar district in North Bengal functioning entirely without regulatory approval. Other districts where such institutes have reportedly proliferated include North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and West Midnapore.

Bogus Registrations and Duplicate Numbers

The Council has expressed particular alarm over reports that some of these institutes have issued registration numbers that are actually duplicates of numbers already assigned to legitimately registered homeopathic practitioners. 'Some pass-outs from these institutes have been provided duplicate registration numbers that had already been allotted to duly registered practitioners. Many are reportedly running clinics in different districts using such bogus registration numbers,' a council insider said. The Council stressed that issuing any registration number is 'totally illegal' for these bodies, as only the Council holds that authority.

What the Council Has Asked the Government to Do

The Council has written to Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, urging immediate intervention and requesting a crackdown on both the unauthorised institutes and individuals practising with fraudulent registrations. The letter calls for swift administrative action against establishments operating without recognition, as well as against graduates who are allegedly running clinics on the basis of duplicate or forged credentials.

How Patients Can Protect Themselves

The Homeopathic Medical Association of India has advised members of the public to verify the credentials of any homeopathy practitioner through the 'homeopathic practitioners list' available on the Council of Homeopathic Medicine's official website. Patients can authenticate a practitioner by entering the registration number listed on their prescription into the Council's online directory.

Broader Implications

This is not an isolated concern — unregulated medical education and fraudulent practitioner registrations have been flagged in multiple states in recent years, raising questions about regulatory oversight of alternative medicine. The fact that duplicate registration numbers have allegedly been circulating points to a systemic lapse that goes beyond individual institutes. How swiftly the state administration acts on the Council's letter to Chief Secretary Agarwal will determine whether this remains a warning or escalates into a public health concern.