We are coordinating with Health Ministry to counter COVID-19: AYUSH Minister

New Delhi, The Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Ministry (AYUSH) is coordinating with the Health and Family Welfare Department in the wake of outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

The Ministry has been recently facing series of flak over its various sets of advisories over the corona virus

During the Question Hour, INC Member Nalamada Uttam Kumar Reddy questioned issuance of an advisory when Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had said that no vaccination or drug is available to treat COVID-19.All India Trinamool Congress Member Shatabdi Rai said that several ministers and MPs are claiming that 'gau-mutra' can cure the pandemic and other ailments.

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AYUSH Minister Sripad Naik countered the Congress Member saying that the advisory has not prescribed medicines but the products mentioned in it can boost the respiratory system. There are certain beliefs in the old system and people are free to believe it or not, he said.

To a question, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the COVID-19 tests are being carried out with perfect scientific rationale. Expressing concern over the origin of the coronavirus, Manish Tewari of INC asked if the government will approach the WHO to ensure whether the pandemic is "naturally-occurring" and not the result of any "scientific experiment which has gone astray", Dr Vardhan replied that the government is in constant touch with the WHO and that such apprehensions are unfounded. 

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