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Shocked to note blatant lie: IMA questions government over 'Coronil'
Last updated on Feb 22, 2021, 05:40 pm
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The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sharply criticized the government's promotion of an "unscientific" medicine for COVID-19.
In a statement on Monday, the IMA questioned the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, over Coronil: the "first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19."
Coronil, developed by yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali, was approved by the AYUSH Ministry as a "supporting measure in COVID-19."
Here are more details.
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Statement
'India needs explanation over Coronil'
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The IMA questioned how Dr. Vardhan could promote a "falsely fabricated, unscientific product."
It expressed shock over the "blatant lie" of a World Health Organization (WHO) certification for a "secret medicine."
The country "needs an explanation," the IMA said, describing Coronil's promotion as blatant deception.
If Coronil was effective against COVID-19, why is the government spending Rs. 35,000 crore for vaccination, the IMA questioned.
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Quote
'How ethical is it to promote the unscientific product?'
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The IMA said, "Being a Health Minister of the country, how ethical is it to promote the product in unethical, wrong, and false ways to the whole country?"
"Being a Health Minister of the country and a Modern Medicine doctor, how ethical is it to promote the unscientific product to the citizens of the country," the organization added.
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Approval
Coronil was launched in the presence of Union Ministers
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Ramdev had launched Coronil in the presence of Dr. Vardhan, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
It was claimed that the "medicine" was CoPP and WHO GMP certified, i.e., it has a certificate of pharmaceutical product (CoPP) and is recognized by the WHO's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Ramdev also released a research paper for the "first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19 by Patanjali."
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Information
WHO said it hasn't certified any COVID-19 medicine
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Later, the WHO clarified that it had not reviewed or certified any traditional medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19. "@WHO has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment #COVID19," WHO South-East Asia tweeted.
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Patanjali
Certificate issued by DCGI: Patanjali MD
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Before WHO's tweet, Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna had issued a clarification as people were skeptical about the certification to Coronil.
"Our WHO GMP-compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India. It is clear that WHO do not approve or disapprove any drugs. WHO works for building a better, healthier future for people all over the world," Balkrishna tweeted.