Homeopathy in India

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Homeopathy in India
Country India
Status Nationally Recognised System of Medicine (since 1973)
Regulatory Body Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH)
Ministry Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
First College Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College (1881)
Registered Doctors 2,24,279+
Govt. Dispensaries 7,856+
Govt. Hospitals 207+
Market Size Rs 2,758 crore+ (organised sector)
Annual Growth Rate 26.3% (highest among AYUSH modalities)
Popularity Rank 3rd most popular medical system in India

Homeopathy in India refers to the practice, regulation, history and development of the homeopathic system of medicine within India. Homeopathy is currently the third most popular method of medical treatment in India, after allopathy and Ayurveda. The Government of India formally recognised homeopathy as one of the national systems of medicine in 1973 and established the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate its education and practice. India today has the largest homeopathic infrastructure in the world — with over 2,24,279 registered homeopathic doctors, 7,856 government dispensaries and 207 government hospitals providing homeopathic treatment across the country.

History

Ancient Foundations

The philosophical roots of homeopathy resonate with ancient Indian medical thought. The ancient Hindu physicians had, in fact, recognised the Law of Similars — the foundational principle of homeopathy (Similia Similibus Curentur — let like be cured by like) — as one of the principles of treatment, centuries before the formal codification of homeopathy by Samuel Hahnemann in Germany in the early 19th century.

Introduction to India (19th Century)

Homeopathy was introduced to India in the early 19th century. Surgeon Samuel Brooking — a retired Medical Officer — had the courage and conviction to establish a Homeopathic Hospital at Tanjore (Thanjavur), South India, in 1847 — one of the earliest formal homeopathic institutions in the country.

The system first flourished in Bengal and then spread across India. In the early period, homeopathy was extensively practised by amateurs in the civil and military services. Mahendra Lal Sircar was the first Indian who formally became a qualified homeopathic physician — and a number of allopathic doctors subsequently took up homeopathic practice following his example.

In 1881, the Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College — the first homeopathic medical college in India — was established, playing a major role in popularising and institutionalising homeopathy across the country.

Colonial Period and Advocacy

During the colonial period, there was no government control over homeopathic training and practice. Qualified homeopaths worked toward obtaining government recognition for the system. To pursue this goal, homeopaths from Bengal and other states came together to form The All India Homeopathic Medical Association (AIHMA) in 1932 — with the initiative of K.N. Katju and other practitioners from Uttar Pradesh, and with support from Jitendranath Majumdar.

Post-Independence Recognition

On 30 September 1948, the Government of India announced the formation of the Homeopathic Enquiry Committee. The committee submitted its report in 1949, formally accepting the homeopathic system of medicine and recommending its recognition by the government. It also recommended the formation of a Central Homeopathic Council.

In 1964, a composite Central Council Bill for Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy was introduced in Parliament. A joint parliamentary committee of 36 members, chaired by Bhargava, submitted its report in 1967 — recommending separate Central Councils for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.

In 1973, the Government of India formally recognised homeopathy as one of the national systems of medicine and established the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate its education and practice. From this point, only qualified registered homeopaths were permitted to practice homeopathy in India.

The National Institute of Homoeopathy came into existence in Kolkata in 1975 as a premier national institution for homeopathic education and research.

AYUSH Era (1995 — Present)

In 1995, the Government of India created the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) to formally oversee and promote traditional and alternative medical systems. This department was later renamed the Department of AYUSH in 2003 — with AYUSH standing for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy.

In November 2014, the AYUSH Department was elevated to a full and independent Ministry of AYUSH — a landmark policy decision reflecting the government's commitment to mainstreaming traditional systems of medicine alongside modern allopathy.

On 29 September 2014, the Government launched the National AYUSH Mission — with objectives of providing cost-effective AYUSH services through universal access, upgrading AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, co-locating AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), and strengthening institutional capacity through upgraded AYUSH educational institutions.

Current Status and Statistics

Homeopathy in India today stands as one of the most significant alternative healthcare systems in the world:

  • Registered Homeopathic Doctors — 2,24,279+
  • Government Homeopathic Dispensaries — 7,856+
  • Government Homeopathic Hospitals — 207+
  • People depending solely on homeopathy — approximately 100 million
  • Organised homeopathy market size — Rs 2,758 crore+
  • Annual growth rate — 26.3% (highest among all AYUSH modalities)
  • Government AYUSH budget (2016–17) — Rs 1,326.20 crore total; homeopathy received Rs 120 crore — the second highest allocation after Ayurveda

Homeopathy is the second-highest funded and second most used category under AYUSH — both by the government and the public. The Indian homeopathy market is growing faster than the global homeopathy market, which is estimated at approximately Rs 26,000 crore globally.

Regulation

Homeopathy in India is regulated by the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) — a statutory body established under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. The CCH functions under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and is responsible for:

  • Maintaining uniform standards of homeopathic education across India
  • Prescribing standards for courses, examinations and qualifications
  • Maintaining a Central Register of Homeopathic practitioners
  • Regulating the practice of homeopathy across the country

Practice and Practitioners

Homeopathy in India is practised in a wide range of settings — from small individual clinics and government dispensaries to large research hospitals and wellness centres. Practitioners typically hold the degree of BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) — a five-and-a-half-year undergraduate programme including internship — or the postgraduate MD (Homeopathy) degree.

Notable practitioners and institutions have advanced homeopathic practice in India through clinical service, research, education and community outreach. Among contemporary practitioners, Dr Rajeev H Pillai — Founder Director of Shree Krishna Homeopathy Clinic & Research Centre in Bengaluru — exemplifies the integrative model of modern homeopathic practice, combining classical homeopathy with emotional wellness coaching, CBT, NLP and energy healing modalities to serve over 30,000 individuals.

Integrative and Holistic Approaches

A significant and growing trend in Indian homeopathy is the integration of classical homeopathic treatment with modern psychological frameworks and holistic healing modalities — including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Pranic Healing and Reiki. This integrative approach reflects the broader evolution of homeopathic practice in India toward addressing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions of health together.

See Also

References

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