The Union Ayush Ministry has marked that it was illegal to advertise Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs with claims that the treatment has “miraculous or supernatural effects”.
It further emphasised that these ads can “mislead and endanger” public health as they endorse “unverified or false claims”.
As per reports, the Union Ministry, in a public notice, stated that it neither certifies nor approves any ASU&H companies or their medicines, and does not grant licences for manufacturing or sales to such manufacturers or companies.
Additionally, under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its accompanying rules, the licence to manufacture the drugs mentioned above for sale is granted by the Licensing Authority of the respective state or Union Territory.
Moreover, to clarify things further, the Ministry emphasised that under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, advertising drugs and magic remedies for treating specific diseases and conditions is strictly prohibited.
Anyone found defying the Act shall be subject to penalties under the law. In addition, the ministry warned to refrain from both self-diagnosis and self-medication with these drugs.
“It is illegal to advertise ASU&H drugs claiming miraculous or supernatural effects for the treatment of diseases. Such advertisements can mislead and endanger public health by promoting unverified or false claims,” the reports quoted the ministry.
With this in place, the public notice also clarified that the Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) drugs with Schedule El drugs should be consumed under the supervision and guidance of a registered medical practitioner of the concerned system of Ayush medicine.
Furthermore, it marked that the containers of these medicines should have instructions in both Hindi and English languages- “Caution to be taken under medical supervision”.
The ministry also said, “General public are advised to use such medications only after consultations with registered medical practitioners/doctors of concerned Ayush systems.”
As per reports, the notice further said, “Public is also encouraged to report any such objectionable advertisements, false claims, fake medicines, etc. to the concerned State Licensing Authority or the Ministry of Ayush for an appropriate action.”
