Ayurvedic drugs in case: Claims, evidence, regulations and ethics

Just before the Independence Day, on August 13, 2016, the Governor of Maharashtra Shri C. Vidyasagar Rao expressed deep concerns over the misleading advertisements of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs. The Governor was addressing senior professors, scientists and students at Savitribai Phule Pune University during a function to release two volumes of book on ‘AYUSH in Public Health’ written by eminent social scientist Professor R K Mutatkar. In the speech, the Governor expressed deep concern over the fact that many Ayurvedic and traditional medicines being sold in the market through commercial advertisements in media claiming to cure diseases like diabetes without scientific evidence or clinical trials to support these claims. The Governor further appealed that the Government must take strict action against such advertisers to protect public interests. This entire issue has scientific, socio economic, legal, moral and ethical dimensions. Misleading advertisements, tele-marketing, multi-level marketing, direct selling and e-tailing pose new challenges. Several eminent public personalities or celebrities as Brand Ambassadors are promoting various products bymaking unrealistic claims. Many television channels are broadcasting misleading advertisements with tall claims luring desperate patients. It is hoped that the new Consumer Protection Act 2015 Bill is cleared soon and the law will take strict course to put stop to blatant cheating through misleading commercial advertisements claiming cure for many incurable diseases.