Doctors Vs Ramdev: A battle of pathies or Fight for Coronil?

Recently Ramdev moved to the Apex Court seeking the clubbing and consolidation of the FIRs lodged against him. He also sought protection from coercive actions in FIRs lodged by Indian Medical Associations' (IMA) Patna and Raipur branches, transfer of FIRs to Delhi, and stay of the proceedings.

In a recent development regarding the matter, an impleadment application has been filed before the Supreme Court by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA), an association of doctors in Delhi and having more than 15,000 members (doctors and medical practitioners), who has requested to be impleaded as a Respondent party in the Swami Ram Dev Vs Union of India & Ors case.

The purpose of such an application on the part of DMA is that it seeks to bring on record certain crucial facts related to the case and also to oppose any grant of reliefs sought by Ramdev in the petition before the Apex Court.

In its application DMA alleged that the Ramdev used false propaganda against COVID-19 vaccines and the allopathic line of treatment only to increase the revenue of his business.

"Ramdev shockingly started a false propaganda against COVID-19 vaccines and the treatment protocol for COVID-19 approved by the Central Govt. itself, with the mala fide intent to promote the sale of products namely "Coronil", "Swasari Vati" and "Anu Taila" manufactured by his company "Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.," stated the impleadment application.

Also Read: Submit Original Video, Transcripts of 'allopathy' remark: Supreme Court tells Baba Ramdev

Insult to Doctors:

Pointing out the difficult challenges faced by the doctors across India in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the association stated that one of the biggest challenges on the part of the medical practitioners was to overcome the misconceptions and false information being spread through various print, electronic and social media against vaccines, treatment options and drugs etc.

Although the doctors across the country have been working every day for approximately 18 hours a day for the past 15 months without a break, Ramdev started insulting doctors and even the allopathic medicine on different forums, the association alleged in the petition.

It has further been alleged, that despite having no degree or license to practice Ayurveda started claiming himself as an expert in the said field and referred to the modern medical system i.e. allopathic science as "Tamasha" and "Stupid Science".

"He further made comments that the doctors who are treating Covid patients don't know anything and claimed that even without a degree, he is a better Doctor than qualified doctors," read the IA.

"He also stated that even doctors having double shots of Covid vaccines could not save themselves, thereby, discouraging people from even taking Covid vaccines," it further added.

Also Read: Allopathy vs AYUSH in Maharashtra: Medical Council order sparks controversy

Not an Allopathy vs Ayurveda Battle

Reflecting on the battle between Ayurveda vs Allopathy, the association pointed out how Ramdev appeared on several platforms and TV channels and made false and baseless averments against the treatment and medicines prescribed by the Ministry of Health, ICMR as well as AIIMS for Covid-19 treatment and stated that such treatment and medicines are ineffective in controlling or treating Covid-19.

"He further referred to doctors/practitioners of Modern medicine as "agents of pharmaceutical companies" and "drug mafia" who are killing patients," read the application.

Calling Ramdev a "businessman clad as a yoga guru", the association has alleged that Ramdev tried to create an artificial divide between "Ayurveda" and "Allopathy" to "cast a doubt in the minds of people against the effectiveness of COVID vaccines and treatment protocols and encourage them to buy "Coronil Kit" which Ramdev falsely propagated as "Ayurvedic preparations".

"Ramdev attempted to create a false narrative that Ayurveda is a better science than allopathic science and instigated people to disregard "allopathic" vaccines and COVID treatment protocols issued by the Central Govt.," the application read.

The 'yoga guru' had also claimed before a News Channel that "Immunity from vaccine would only work for 6 months or a year. The immunity developed from yoga would be permanent" further adding that "he will not take Covid vaccine as he does not need it".

Also Read: Patanjali's Coronil has no regulatory approvals for Covid-19 treatment: IMA

Is it a fight to promote Coronil?

Recalling the launch of "Coronil" by Baba Ramdev back in June 2020, the association stated that "Ramdev, through its statements and advertisements made false and baseless statements that "Coronil" has a recovery rate of 100% and death rate of 0% against Covid-19."

In fact, a "Corona Kit" was launched on the part of Ramdev including several products namely "Swasari Vati" and "Anu Taila". Stating that although there was no scientific report or basis to support the claims of Ramdev regarding the Corona Kit as a cure for Covid, the Association stated that "However, as a result of the misleading and false claims of Ramdev, the sale of the aforesaid products increased exponentially and Ramdev's company i.e. patanjali sold 25 Lakhs "Coronil Kits" worth Rs. 250 Crores in just the first four months of its launch."

Soon after the launch, the products were questioned by thousands of medical practitioners and experts on virology across the country. In fact, the AYUSH ministry as well directed Patanjali to provide the detailed chemical composition of these alleged medicines and medical data and scientific study reports to support the claims of Patanjali and Ramdev, further directing the company to stop advertising such claims till the examination of the issue.

"However, after the onset of the second wave of the Pandemic, Ramdev started his misleading campaign again, alleged the association, and claimed that Coronil had been approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and the World Health Organization (WHO). However, those claims were found to be false soon afterward," DMA said

The association in its application has further pointed out that the battle between Allopathy and Ayurveda began only after the doctors across the country started protesting against the claims of Ramdev marketing "Coronil" as a "Cure for Corona".

It has been also claimed by the Association that despite being aware of the fact that such products were never approved as Covid medicine and had only the license as "immunity booster" "Ramdev continued to propagate these medicines as a "cure for corona" and on the basis of such misleading advertisement, earned crores of Rupees in revenue."

"Believing the fraudulent and false claims regarding Coronil, thousands of people started lining in queue to buy Coronil/Coronil Kits thereby, resulting into skyrocketing the revenue of Patanjali within the span of just 2-3 days. It is relevant to note herein that the demand for the "Coronil" was so high that Patanjali was selling around 10 lakhs packs of Coronil every day. The total revenue earned by Patanjali from the sale of Coronil/Coronil Kits alone is believed to be in excess of Rs. 1,000 Crores," mentioned the association.

Also Read: IMA slams Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan over Patanjali Coronil claims

The association further alleged that the attacks by Ramdev on allopathic doctors and allopathic medicine started only after the doctors started raising their voices against the false claims made by the "yog guru" regarding the effectiveness of Coronil as a "cure for Corona". It was only after that he started appearing on several TV channels and made baseless averments against the Modern medicine and initiated the Ayurveda vs Allopathy controversy.

Declaring its respect for the Ayurveda and Homeopathy as different branches of medicine, the association stated that Ramdev had no license to practice Ayurveda and "the intent behind creation of this artificial divide/rivalry between "allopathy" and "ayurveda" was to cast a doubt in the minds of people against the effectiveness of COVID vaccines and treatment protocols and encourage them to buy "Coronil Kit" which Ramdev falsely propagated as "Ayurvedic preparations".

"As a result of Ramdev's statements, many people started avoiding vaccinations. Furthermore, many patients lost their lives by not taking appropriate Covid treatment on the advice of Ramdev," alleged the association further claiming that "as a result of such instigation, several instances of aggression and violence have surfaced against Doctors, nurses and other medical staff across the country."

In fact, the 'yog guru' had also arrogantly stated "arrest to kisi ka baap bhi nahi kar sakta Swami Ramdev ko," pointed out the association.

Calling Ramdev a "quack", having no valid degree to practice medicine, the association alleged that "Ramdev has cheated and defrauded an entire country by claiming Coronil as a "cure" for Covid for his personal gains." "He also attempted to create a rivalry between Allopathy and Ayurveda (even though he himself is not certified to practice either) with the intent to promote sales of Coronil and other products of Patanjali," added the application.

Further pointing out that several FIRs have been launched against Ramdev and even DMA has initiated a petition against the 'yoga guru' before the Delhi High Court, the association sought to be impleaded as a Respondent in the petition filed by Ramdev before the Apex Court and requested to quash the petition pointing out that "since separate State Regulations/legislations would be attracted in each FIR, it may not be possible to club all the FIRs and hold a single trial as prayed from by the petitioner (Ramdev)."

Only this week, on Wednesday, the Apex Court took note of the fact that Yoga guru Baba Ramdev hasn't submitted his original statement regarding the controversial 'allopathy' remark and asked him to place on record the original video and transcript of the same. The top court has listed the matter to be next heard on July 5.

To view the Impleadment Application, click on the link below.

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/impleadment-application-dma-156752.pdf

Also Read: Delhi HC issues summons to Ramdev in DMA plea over Patanjali's Coronil