Lok Sabha Question No. 3972 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Ayurvedic Medicines for Treatment during COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, Suresh Kodikunnil, Amar Singh, Behanan Benny, K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3972 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH March, 2021

## AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR TREATMENT DURING COVID - 19

## 3972. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

DR. AMAR SINGH:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has sought any formal certification or review from the WHO for any traditional medication like Coronil to treat COVID - 19 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government endorses claims by the manufacturers of Coronil tablet that it is a  remedy  for COVID - 19  and  has  r eceived  certification  from  Government as  per  WHO certification scheme;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether any action will be taken by the Government against such manufacturers/promoters of such remedies who claim to have such certification from WHO
- and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has any data on the effectiveness of traditional medication like
- Ayurveda to cure COVID- 19, and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details of the researc h work/ linical trials supporting efficacy of Coronil in COVID - 19 treatment and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- ( a): The Government did not seek any formal certification or review from WHO for any traditional medication to treat COVID - 19;

( b)to ( d) : Manufacturer  of Coronil (M/s  Patanjali  Research  Foundation  Trust)  have applied to the Interdisciplinary Technical Review Committee (ITRC) constituted by Mini of  AYUSH  to  review  all  the  COVID - 19  related  claims  through  the  State  Licensing Author ities. The committee appraised & observed that the core ingredients of Coronil like Tulsi, Ashwagandha are included in the National Clinical Protocol for COVID - 19 and also based on the rational and inference of Patanjali's presentation, it was suggested th at it may be used as supporting measure in COVID - 19. The State Licensing Authority is also informed that Coronil tablet may be used as supporting measure in the management of COVID - 19 without claiming cure.

A s per the WHO certification scheme, which is a scheme ofCertificate of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP) by National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for the purpose of internation commerce  i.e.  for  registration  of  products  in  foreign  countries,  Central  Drugs  St Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued C ertification of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP) to  M/s  Divya  Pharmacy  Unit  (II),  Haridwar  for  their  product  Divya  Coronil  Tablet, examination of their application in consultation with Ministry of AYUSH.

( e) &( f) : So far Government did not receive a ny data on the traditional medicine to cure COVID-19. However, Ministry of AYUSH has constituted a Interdisciplinary AYUSH R&D Task Force on COVID and also a core group of experts under the Chairmanship of Prof.  Bhushan  Patwardhan  to  identify  and  propose  f ormulations  on  COVID -I9  which organized / reviewed the scientific studies on COVID - 19 in line with principles of AYUSH systems and have obtained substantial leads on COVID -I9viz, one for prophylaxis as immune modulatory, another for management of COVID -19 with antiviral properties and one product for post COVlD -I9 care. Further an ITRC (Interdisciplinary Technical Review Committee) Chaired  by  Prof.  Maulik  from  AIIMS,  New  Delhi  is  reviewing  the  studies  on  traditio medications intended to be used in COVID - 19.