Posted By :  Admin1

In a significant move to curb the proliferation of misleading medical advertisements, the Andhra Pradesh government has authorized 13 AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) doctors to take legal action against individuals and entities promoting false medical claims. This initiative aligns with the directives of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies claiming to have miraculous or supernatural effects. The empowered AYUSH practitioners are now vested with the authority to inspect, investigate, and prosecute offenders within their jurisdictions, aiming to safeguard public health from deceptive promotional practices.

This development comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's stern observations regarding the lax enforcement of laws against misleading medical advertisements by various states, including Andhra Pradesh. The apex court had summoned the chief secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir to explain their non-compliance with Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which mandates prior approval for advertisements related to Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani drugs. The court emphasized the necessity for stringent action to prevent the dissemination of unverified and potentially harmful medical claims to the public.

The Ministry of AYUSH has also been proactive in addressing this issue by establishing a comprehensive pharmacovigilance network under the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY). This network, comprising a National Pharmacovigilance Centre, intermediary centers, and peripheral centers across the country, has reported over 38,000 instances of misleading advertisements related to AYUSH drugs in the past three years. These reports have been forwarded to respective State Licensing Authorities for appropriate action, underscoring the government's commitment to ensuring the credibility and safety of traditional medicine systems.