IMA slams Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan over Patanjali Coronil claims

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2021-02-23T11:00:18+05:30 | Updated On 23 Feb 2021 11:00 AM IST

Rs 278 Cr Indemnity Claim, Inflated GMV, Board Ouster: Inside the Medikabazaar Controversy

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed its shock at Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's claims on Patanjali's Coronil as the "first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19", made in the presence of Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The Association called the claims of the Ayurvedic drug having DCGI approval and WHO certification a 'blatant lie' and has issued a statement seeking an explanation from Dr Harsh Vardhan for appearing to endorse the product.

The association has also decided to write to National Medical Commission (NMC) for seeking suo Moto explanation from the Minister for " his blatant disrespect to the code of conduct of Medical Council of India", as according to the MCI Code of ethics no doctor can promote any secret medication with a trading name. IMA has also criticized Baba Ramdev's comment on modern medicines in which he allegedly branded it as "medical terrorism."

This comes in the wake of the global health body, WHO, clarifying that it has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment of COVID-19.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Patanjali issued a statement confirming that Coronil has received the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) from the Ayush section of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) as per the WHO certification scheme. The Ayush Ministry had classified it as an "Immuno-booster" only. The ministry earlier this month recognized Coronil as medicine for "supporting the measure in COVID-19" treatment, Ramdev had told reporters.

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sidelined itself and clarified in a tweet that it has not reviewed or certified any traditional medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19. Soon after the statement by WHO rejecting the claims was issued, Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna made a clarification on Twitter and stated "WHO does not approve or disapprove any drugs. Instead, it works for building better and healthier future for people all over the world".

Also Read: Not reviewed any traditional drug for treating Covid-19: WHO clarifies on Patanjali's Coronil Certification claim

We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India.
It is clear that WHO do not approve or disapprove any drugs.
WHO works for building a better, healthier future for people all over the world. pic.twitter.com/ZEDPdWy0tg
— Acharya Balkrishna (@Ach_Balkrishna) February 19, 2021

Now IMA has become vocal about the issue and sought an explanation from the Union Minister Dr Vardhan. In a statement, IMA mentioned, " Indian Medical Association is shocked to note the blatant lie of WHO certification for a secret medicine, launched by an entrepreneur in the presence of Hon'ble Health Minister. Baba Ramdev also said this so-called CORONIL to be used for prevention, treatment as well as post-Covid phase treatment. It was mentioned that the said medicine is the first evidence-based medicine. During a follow-up interview, Baba Ramdev also exclaimed few remarks criticizing modern medicine being medical terrorism. It was claimed by Baba Ramdev with Hon'ble Health Minister that the said CORONIL ayurvedic medicine has got DCGI approval & WHO certification. All these happening was witnessed in person by Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who is a modern medical doctor by qualification."

Pointing out that WHO has already denied the claim, the association stated that as per the code of act of Medical council of India, section 6:1:1, no doctor can promote any drug as it says, "A physician shall not give to any person, whether for compensation or otherwise, any approval, recommendation, endorsement, certificate, report or statement with respect of any drug, medicine, ------with his name, signature, or photograph in any form or manner of advertising through any mode nor shall he boast of cases, operations, cures or remedies or permit the publication of report thereof through any mode". "However, it is surprising that the Minister himself is promoting the drug", the association added.

IMA raised a series of questions slamming the Health Minister, " How appropriate and rationale is it to release such false projections in front of the whole country? How justified is it to release such falsely fabricated unscientific products to people of the whole country? How ethical is it to promote the product in unethical, wrong, and false ways to the whole country? Being a Modern Medicine doctor, how ethical is it to promote the unscientific product to the citizens of the country? IMA also questioned the scientific results of the clinical trials."

The doctors' body further added, "Being a Health Minister of the country and a modern medicine doctor, can you clarify the highly objectionable and instigative statement by Baba Ramdev? On what grounds it was approved by DCGI as was announced in your presence?"

The association also stated that the false and fabricated projection of an unscientific medicine to the entire country and being rejected by WHO was a slap and insult to the people of the country.

"This is a blatant deceiving of the people of the country. How can a drug be effective for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation from the disease? If CORONIL is effective for prevention, why Government is spending 35000 crores for vaccination? Is the Health Minister is promoting CORONIL for prevention than the vaccine as Ayurveda may not prescribe vaccination for preventing disease? " it said.

While reiterating IMA's respect for unadulterated Ayurveda, the association added, "The country needs an explanation from the honorable Minister" and informed that it will approach NMC against this act of disrespect to the code of conduct of the Medical Council of India.

Commenting on the issue IMA President Dr. Jayalal told Medical Dialogues, " The Health Minister himself is a modern medical man and based on the Medical Council of India's code of ethics, he knows for sure that any drug with a trading name can not be promoted by any doctor but unfortunately in a function where a private company was promoting a medicine with a trading name, he himself was present."

He further added, " it is shocking to know that the medicine was announced to be effective for the prevention, treatment of COVID, and also for post-COVID complications. The study of the medicine is only a pilot study and the study was conducted by the same person who produced it. How can the person who produced it can do the testing and say that it's good? Is it not a conflict of interest?"

WHO certificationPatanjaliNational Medical CommissionNMCAyush MinistryWorld Health Organisationcoronilindian medical associationIMAdr harsh vardhandcgicovid19covid treatmentunion health minister

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.