In a significant development, the Supreme Court issued a stern warning to Patanjali Ayurved, co-founded by yoga guru Ramdev, admonishing the company against propagating “false” and “misleading” claims in its advertisements about medicinal cures for various ailments.
During the hearing of a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), a bench comprising justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against disseminating misleading information in its advertisements regarding modern systems of medicine.
The apex court, highlighting the severity of the matter, expressed its intent to take strict action, considering imposing a hefty fine of ₹1 crore on each product if it is found to make false claims regarding the cure of specific diseases.
Moreover, the court directed Patanjali Ayurved to immediately cease all misleading advertisements, underscoring that any breach of this directive would be dealt with severely. This warning came after the Court’s issuance of notices on August 23, 2022, to the Union health ministry, Ministry of Ayush, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in response to the IMA’s allegations of a smear campaign against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.
During the hearing, the bench urged the counsel representing the Centre to address the issue of misleading medical advertisements making exaggerated claims about the efficacy of certain medicines in curing diseases.
The Court scheduled the next hearing on February 5, next year, to further deliberate on the IMA’s plea. Previously, the Court had strongly criticized Ramdev for his disparaging remarks against allopathy and its practitioners, emphasizing the need to refrain from such criticisms and smear campaigns against other systems of treatment.
The IMA, in its plea, highlighted various advertisements that allegedly portrayed allopathic doctors negatively and made misleading statements about modern medicines, including claims that medical practitioners themselves succumb to diseases despite using allopathic treatments.
The Association also expressed concerns about concerted efforts aimed at discouraging vaccinations, including the COVID-19 drive, and the use of allopathic medications, urging the Court to address this issue promptly. The Court’s vigilant stance underscores the gravity of misleading medical claims and emphasizes the need for responsible advertising in the healthcare sector.
Sources By Agencies