Andhra HC, Govt nod to 3 herbal concoctions prepared by Ayurvedic doctor to cure COVID

This came after the petitioner approached the court seeking permission to administer five types of ayurvedic preparations including ' P,K, L, F, and eye drops' on COVID patients claiming that they have been effective in treating COVID patients. The court has allowed him to administer P, L,F preparations but the eye drops and preparation K still awaits approval.

Subsequently, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday also gave a green signal for the use of this traditional medicine, touted as a cure particularly for Covid-19 patients, being prepared by the Ayurvedic practitioner.

PTI reports that the petitioner pleaded that it be categorized as a 'patent or proprietary medicine' as defined under Section 3(h) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. As he has been a practising Ayurvedic doctor for many years now, the petitioner contended that his drug did not require any license. The practitioner said he did not intend to sell the drug, developed by him, commercially and would only distribute it to the public free of cost.

When the matter came up for hearing, Sri Sumon Chinthala, learned Special Government Pleader, submitted that the Ayurvedic Practitioner, was administering five types of ayurvedic preparations, which are known as 'P, F, L, K, and eye drops' and the samples of 'P, F and L' were sent for analysis and they were found to be satisfactory and hence, the State Government did not have any objection for administering the said ayurvedic preparations to the needy people. The government also conveyed to the Court that the drug prepared by him is unique in its combination and has been proven to be efficient with no possible side effects.

The government pleader also added that so far as the ayurvedic preparation 'K' is concerned, the sample could not be drawn and analyzed, as the said ayurvedic preparation was not readily available. He further submitted that the said sample with regard to 'K' would be drawn as and when it is available and would be sent for analysis and a report would be submitted with regard to the said sample by 3.06.2021.

The eye drops on the other hand needed further analysis which would take about two weeks time. So far as the eye drops were concerned, as the analysis test was taking considerable time, the court asked the learned Special Government Pleader to suggest any measures that have to be followed while preparing and administering the said eye drops to make it safe for administration, for which the pleader readily accepted to come back with suggestions by 03.06.2021. Petitioner's counsel N. Ashwani Kumar submitted that sample 'K' would be available for examination by Monday night. He submitted that the ayurvedic medicine was helpful in treating Coronavirus.

Addressing the issue of maintaining COVID norms, Learned Special Government Pleader further stated that the Superintendent of Police and the District Collector of SPSR Nellore District were asked to ensure that the Covid guidelines are followed by the people who gather to take ayurvedic preparations made by Anandaiah. He also suggested that instead of patients directly coming to the practitioner, anybody on their behalf may come to collect the medicine to avoid spreading Covid. The District Administration was also directed to discuss with regard to maintenance of Covid protocols and smooth administration of the medicine.

After due consideration court allowed the petitioner to administer 'P, F, and L' but the decision regarding preparation K and eye drops is yet to be made. The court noted;

Meanwhile, at a high-level review meeting on Covid-19, chaired by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the government decided to permit the administration of three traditional drugs, simply named P, L and F. The government did not approve the administration of another drug K as the Ayurveda practitioner did not demonstrate its preparation, a release from the CMO said.

According to PTI, the government took the decision on permitting the use of what is popularly called the "Krishnapatnam Medicine" based on the report of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, the release said. The CCRAS report, however, noted that there was no evidence that the Krishnapatnam Medicine cured Covid-19. "Patients should take regular medicines prescribed by the doctors and use the Krishnapatnam Medicine alongside. It is a personal choice," the government said.