Quack In Garb Of Baba: IMA writes to ICMR, NMC against Ramdev's Allopathy remark

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2021-06-10T13:37:21+05:30 | Updated On 24 Nov 2022 2:36 PM IST

Quack In Garb Of Baba: IMA writes to ICMR, NMC against Ramdevs Allopathy remark

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has submitted letters to the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Head of the National Medical Commission (NMC), and all the State Medical Councils against "self-styled", "quack" Baba Ramdev alleging him of making "unprovoked demeaning and prejudicing utterances against modern medicine " in public domain.

The controversy started with a video, floating on different social media sites, showing Ramdev terming modern allopathy "a stupid and failed science".

The IMA had sent a legal notice to the Yoga Guru Ramdev over his alleged statements against allopathy and "defaming" scientific medicine. However, the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust has denied allegations by the IMA that Ramdev has misled people by making "unlearned" statements against allopathy and defamed scientific medicine.

ANI reports that as per the Haridwar-based Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust statement, Ramdev was reading out a WhatsApp forwarded message in the video that has gone viral on social media.

Also Read: Uttarakhand: State IMA Challenges Baba Ramdev For Open Debate On Allopathy

However, IMA has now sought top medical bodies' intervention. IMA wrote in its letter to ICMR,

"We are therefore seeking your indulgence as the statutorily authorized 'custodian' of modern medicine in the interest of the medical profession and medical professionals especially in the context of the material fact that self-styled Baba Ramdev through his ruthless public utterances is making a mockery of modern medicine and the professionals which tantamount to the mockery and ridicule of the life-saving protocols that have been worked out by the Indian Council of Medical Research and have been successfully put into operation that has resulted in unparalleled effectivity."

Also Read: Over 600 doctors succumbed to COVID in second wave, 109 fatalities in Delhi: IMA data

The association pointed out that during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the entire medical fraternity, right from day one, has been battling at the frontlines in the war against coronavirus and has been able to save millions of people from the clutches of severe COVID-19 infection and in the bargain, it has lost more than 1400 of its proactive veterans and dynamic younger ones as martyrs in this war against COVID-19.

However, " self-styled Baba Ramdev who does not have any legitimate valid authority including having any requisite educational qualifications for the same is unilaterally, in the most brazen manner is targeting modern medicine through his uncharitable, unwarranted, prejudicing utterances in the public domain is tarnishing it without an iota of evidence thereto", the association alleged.

IMA further claimed that though he does not have any valid educational qualification either in the domain of modern medicine or Ayurvedic Medicine, he has been constantly making statements belittling the entire modern medicine in an outrageous and provocative manner which " depicts his calculated intent in as much as his tirade is exclusively for promoting his business concerns."

Pointing out that his statements are causing irreparable damage to the fair name, credit, and credibility of the modern medical profession, the association stated, " The way he is belittling the modern medicine professionals who laid down their lives for the public cause as Covid-19 Martyrs in the most exemplary and emulable manner is tragic, unfortunate, inhuman, sarcastic, unpardonable and punishable in nature."

The association stated that ICMR, NMC, and state medical councils being the 'custodian' of research-based medical practice is vested with the authority and jurisdiction of generating required levels of biological/medicinal research in an all-round manner and the various 'protocols' that have been availed for Covid-19 care and cure in the teeth of the pandemic plaguing the country by all concerned also followed the direction of the concerned authorities.

IMA sought the indulgence of ICMR, NMC, and State Councils as the statutorily authorized 'custodian' as Baba Ramdev kept ridiculing the life-saving protocols that have been worked out by the ICMR and have been successfully put into operation that has resulted in unparalleled effectivity.

Seeking the concerned authorities to upload the honor, esteem, dignity, prestige, and self-respect of the modern doctors, the association mentioned in its letter to ICMR, "Quack Baba Ramdev in his public depiction is not only tarnishing it but also undermining the entire responsive and responsible contribution of Indian Council of Medical Research in such difficult times which is uncharitable and also defamatory and tarnishing in nature and character in taming the crook and the quack in the garb of Baba Ramdev from causing unilateral irreparable damage to the fair name and credit of the protocols prescribed by the ICMR, executed by the modern medicine professionals including humiliation that he has heaped on the Covid-19 martyrs by insulting them in the most barbaric and beastly manner. "

Subsequently, IMA asked NMC, ICMR, and the State Councils to do the needful promptly in the interest of medical research through various protocols to stop such verbal attacks on the modern scientific medical system.

Indian medical associationIMANMCICMRstate medical councilnational medical commissionbaba ramdevquackCOVIDdoctormodern medicine systemAllopathy

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.