Minister empowers 13 AYUSH doctors to act against persons publishing fake medical ads

Minister empowers 13 AYUSH doctors to crack down on misleading traditional medicine advertisements, in line with Supreme Court directives.

Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has given powers to 13 government AYUSH doctors to take action, as per Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, against people for publishing misleading advertisements with regard to the use of traditional medicines.

In view of the Supreme Court taking a serious note of false medical claims and calling for a redressal mechanism in all States, the Minister has taken steps to improve the surveillance on fake advertisements in the field of traditional medicines, according to an official release from the department on Thursday.

With regard to fake claims in the field of allopathy medicine, the State government had already instructed all drug inspectors to keep a watch on advertisements. At present, 49 drug inspectors were working in the State, keeping a tab on misleading claims regarding the use of allopathic medicines.

The 13 doctors would keep a check on AYUSH advertisements in the composite 13 districts, the release said. Until now, there was only one person to look into it.

The Act prohibits publishing of any such advertisement that promotes certain drugs to prevent miscarriages or conception in women or that claims to improve the capacity of human beings for sexual pleasure or correction of menstrual disorder in women. Under the Act, there is a provision for a punishment for up to six years or a fine or both.

The Minister asked the 13 doctors to take action against any person found involved in publishing or preparing the content, as per the Act. He also instructed the police officers to register the complaints without delay.