New Delhi: Seeking stringent action against a hepatologist for his alleged defaming remarks on AYUSH on social media, the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The association has demanded the authorities to take strict note of the defamation comments made by the Kochi-based hepatologist who allegedly called the Ayurveda medicine unscientific on a social media platform and cancel his registration.
In the letter to the PM and Chief Minister, the association pointed out that certain people with vested interests are frequently targeting Ayurveda using various platforms like social media. "Their motto is to create a dilemma in the public, thereby reducing the popularity of Ayurveda. These people are mainly using social media platforms for this purpose," it stressed.
Pointing out the doctor's alleged remarks on Ayurveda, the association said, "A certain doctor who claimed to be the hepatologist of Rajagiri Hospital, Cochin Kerala is purposefully trying to defame Ayurveda in various social media platforms. A particular interview of the aforesaid person in a youtube channel named "Lucy" was published on 21/06/2021 in which the doctor mentioned that the AYUSH Department is unscientific."
Moreover, the doctor allegedly also stated that the immunity medicines given for Covid-19 disease are hepatotoxic. The association further added, "The doctor claimed that 3% (34/1440) of the patients who consult the doctor are having liver-related disease due to the consumption of ayurvedic drugs (he is not mentioning anything about the 98% of patients)."
The doctor even defamed the GMP-certified companies in the Ayurveda field by claiming that the particular companies are exercising quackery. In fact, the doctor also allegedly claimed that all Ayurveda medicines are hepatotoxic, the association claimed in the letter.
"This kind of argument against Ayurveda as well as the Department of AYUSH cannot be tolerated because it affects the reputation of both. It paves way for wrong interpretation among the public. Moreover, it is to be noted that in order to study an Ayurveda drug or medicine 'guidelines prescribed by the department of AYUSH should be followed', which was not fulfilled by the doctor", added the association.
Stating that the arguments made by the doctor are based on his own assumptions, and not on the basis of scientific studies, the association added, "Since defamation of a science and the department of AYUSH baselessly is an offense, it is requested that punishment including the cancellation of the registration of the doctor should be made and appropriate measures should also be taken against the YouTube channel "Lucy" for spreading false and misleading information to the public."
A copy of the letter has been forwarded to Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Department of Ayush as well.
The doctor, on the other hand, has posted on social media claiming that he has been targeted as he called out quackery. " Ayurveda Medical Association of India (actually a small group of Ayush from Kerala) has sent a letter to the Prime Minister of India asking to cancel my medical license because I called quackery."
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