Lok Sabha Question No. 1882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: AYUSH Medicines for Treatment of COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan, Sajda Ahmed, Bholanath (B.P. Saroj), Nalin Kumar Kateel, A. Ganeshamurthi

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 1882 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH February, 2021

## AYUSH MEDICINES FOR TREATMENT OF COVID - 19

1882. SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there are ports of illegal marketing and sale of AYUSH  system of  medicines  in  the  open  market  for  COVID - 19  treatment/ anti - COVID properties across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT - wise and stream - wise;
- (c) whether these medicines were approved by the ICMR and any complaints/suggestion have been  received in  this  regard,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  names of  such private/corporate companies against whom complaints have been lodged/registered; and
- (d) the details of action taken/being taken by the Government against those drug companies which have flouted the rules and regulations of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954?

## 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)& (b) : Ministry  of  AYUSH  issued  an  order  dated  1.4.2020  to  stop  and  prevent publicity and advertisement of AYUSH - related claims for COVID - 19 treatment in print, TV and  electronic  media  was  issued  to  All  State  Principal  Secretaries/Secretaries  Heal AYUSH, St ate Licensing Authorities AYUSH (SLA), Pharmacovigilance centres, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, P Council of India and Advertising Standards Council of India. Through Pharmacovigilan centres -173 such advertisements related to ASU&H drugs for COVID - 19 claims have been received from April, 2020 to January 2021.

| Sr. No.   | System     |   Number of IPvC Centers |   Number of PPvC Centers |   Number of COVID - 19 Misleading Advertisement (From April to y, 2021) |
|-----------|------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Ayurveda   |                       02 |                       35 |                                                                     111 |
| 2.        | Siddha     |                       01 |                       14 |                                                                      49 |
| 3.        | Homeopathy |                       01 |                       13 |                                                                      07 |
| 4.        | Unani      |                       01 |                       11 |                                                                      06 |
|           | Total      |                       05 |                       74 |                                                                     173 |

- (c) : As per information received from ICMR, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules thereunder, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is responsib for approval of Drugs, conduct of clinical trials, laying down the standards for drugs ontrol over the quality of imported drugs in the country.

(d) : Advertisements of AYUSH drugs are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules there under, wh ich is administered by the respective State Governments. Stat Licensing  Authorities  are  empowered  to  take  action  in  case  of  non  compliance.    In regard,  Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  issued  directives  to  the  State/UT  authorities  to  in necessary  action  a gainst  the  defaulters  and  alleged  manufacturers/  advertisers  acting contravention of the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules there under Drugs  and  Magic  Remedies  (Objectionable  Advertisements)  Act,  1954  and  Rules  there under.