The Supreme Court of India, while hearing the case against Patanjali Ayurved, Baba Ramdev, and Acharya Balkrishna for misleading advertisements, turned its attention to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) over allegations of its doctors endorsing “expensive and unnecessary” medicines in the allopathic field.
The court made sharp observations, stating that “four fingers” were pointing at the IMA as well. “Your (IMA) doctors are also endorsing medicines in the allopathic field. If that’s happening, why should we not turn the beam at you (IMA)?” the Supreme Court questioned the association.
The apex court directed the IMA to address concerns regarding alleged “unethical acts” related to the prescription of “expensive and unnecessary” medicines. “There are several complaints with regard to alleged unethical conduct of IMA,” the court stated, as reported by ANI.
The Supreme Court further expressed concern over FMCG companies exploiting consumers through advertisements of products that potentially impact the health of children, school-going children, and senior citizens. The court has ordered the licensing authorities of all states and union territories to be included as parties in the case.
The court has also instructed central ministries to submit affidavits outlining actions taken against misleading advertisements in the past three years. It emphasized the need for the Union government to recognize and address such practices.
The Patanjali Ayurved case originated from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association, alleging the publication of misleading advertisements claiming cures for diseases and running a smear campaign against modern medicine. Patanjali had earlier provided an undertaking to refrain from such advertisements, but the court later found them in violation of this undertaking and initiated contempt proceedings against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.
On April 16, the Supreme Court warned Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna against any attempt to “degrade allopathy” and allowed them to tender a public apology within a week. The court clarified that they were not completely off the hook. Today, the company informed the court that it had published an apology in over 60 newspapers.
The Supreme Court ordered Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna to submit proof of the apology published in newspapers.
