Questions raised over drug advert by Kerala govt. firm
RSS fast to level out that drug is from cow merchandise; well being activists see bid to mislead public
A classical Ayurvedic drug, ready in response to age-old texts utilizing cow merchandise, and marketed by a Kerala authorities enterprise, has grow to be a topic of political dialogue, additionally incurring the wrath of activists.
Panchagavya Ghrutham is manufactured utilizing cow milk, curd, ghee, dung, and urine as per the Ayurveda classical textual content Ashtangahridayam. All main Ayurveda pharmaceutical corporations have been making it for lengthy. What kicked off an argument, nevertheless, was an advert positioned by Oushadhi, the Kerala government-owned Ayurvedic drug manufacturing unit. The product description says that it’s for the therapy of ‘mental diseases, jaundice, fever and epilepsy and improves memory power and concentration.’
Organiser, the right-wing journal owing allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, got here up with a social media put up not too long ago saying that the “Kerala government company is making profit by selling cow dung and cow urine products to boost memory and concentration”. The sarcastic jab was pointed in direction of the ruling Left, which all the time corners the Sangh Parivar for its thrust on “cow politics”.
CAPSULE model
The commercial, nevertheless, has not gone down properly with public well being activists as properly. Campaign Against Pseudo Science Using Law and Ethics (CAPSULE), a wing of the Left-leaning Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, has lodged a grievance with the State Drugs Controller and the Deputy Drugs Controller in-charge of Ayurveda. CAPSULE chairman U. Nandakumar and convener M.P. Anil Kumar stated of their letter that psychological illnesses or illnesses or issues of mind, fever and epilepsy had been among the many 54 illnesses whose medicine shouldn’t be marketed underneath Section 3D of the Drugs and Magical Remedies Act, 1954.
Also, in response to the Section 106 Schedule J of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, (labelling and packing of medicine aside from homoeopathic medicines), indications corresponding to epileptic suits and psychiatric issues, improve in mind capability and enchancment of reminiscence, jaundice/hepatitis, and liver issues shouldn’t be displayed together with the medicines. The particulars concerning the product on the Oushadhi web site may mislead the individuals, the grievance added.