Unlike Maharashtra, where allopaths were caught unawares, their counterparts in Gujarat have decided to join issue with the homoeopaths who are currently involved in hectic lobbying for equal treatment. The Maharashtra decision stipulates that homoeopaths undergo a six-month course before practising allopathy.

The Gujarat units of Homoeopathic Education and Medical Practitioners' Association (HEMPA), with 5,000 members, and Indian Medical Association, with 15,000, discussed the issue at separate meetings in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Interestingly, homoeopaths in Gujarat have been backed by the Doctors' Cell of the BJP, which claims membership of over 5,000 allopaths. In fact, homoeopaths in Gujarat have been prompted by the success of their counterparts in Maharashtra who have successfully lobbied with the BJP and Shiv Sena.

Vadodara-based executive members of the cell Uday Vaidya and Asit Vyas, though backing the homoeopath' causes, admit it could lead to bad blood between practitioners of the two disciplines. They cite WHO norms to explain their rationale: Instead an ideal one doctor per 7,000 people in rural areas, Gujarat has one doctor for 12,000-15,000 people.

HEMPA's Vadodara district unit president Rajesh Shah says they would do their best achieve what their counterparts in Maharashtra could achieve. ``We may go for a rally or repeated representations to government. We will fight all the way'', he says.

The opposition, however, is tough; the IMA and National Allopathy Medicos' Association say the practice will amount to a crime. ``The central and state governments prohibit anyone from practicing any discipline other than the one he is qualified in,'' says national president of IMA V C Patel, citing instances of homoeopaths reportedly giving wrong prescriptions.

When contacted, additional chief secretary S K Verma, who is also holding additional charge as Secretary (Health), and her deputy (Health Education) G M Christian, denied any such move from the government's side.