Centre tells Patanjali to stop advertising COVID-19 therapy, prove claims scientifically first

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 23

The central government on Monday asked Ramdev’s Patanjali to stop advertising Ayurvedic COVID therapies without first sharing the details of scientific studies that have led to the Ayurvedic drugs in question.

Taking note of Patanjali’s claims about new COVID-19 therapy in Ayurveda, Ayush Ministry said on Monday that it had no knowledge of the scientific study in question.

“Facts of the claim by Patanjali and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the Ministry. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, Clinical Trial Registry details and results data of the study and stop advertising/publicising such claims till the issue is duly examined,” the government said.

READ: Ramdev's Patanjali claims 100% recovery in 7 days claims with new COVID-19 tablets 

Ministry also asked Uttarakhand Licensing Authority to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID -19.

The Ministry further said Patanjali has been informed that such advertisements of drugs including Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules thereunder and the directives issued by the central government in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak and Ministry a notification had been issued on April 21 stating the requirements and manner in which research studies on COVID-19 with Ayush interventions and medicines should be undertaken.