New Delhi. Indian Medical Association (IMA) President Dr R V Ashokan on Monday said Baba Ramdev crossed the limit when he claimed to have a cure for Covid-19 and called the modern medical system ‘foolish and bankrupt’. This is the first comment from IMA after the Supreme Court reprimanded Ramdev and his pharmaceutical company Patanjali Ayurveda last month for misleading advertisements by calling it ‘science’. The case is going to be heard in the Supreme Court on April 30.
The top court is hearing a 2022 petition by the IMA, alleging a campaign to defame the anti-Covid vaccination campaign and modern methods of medicine. Last month, the court had asked Ramdev, his aide Acharya Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd to publicly apologize for not following its orders on misleading advertisements.
Speaking to PTI editors, Ashokan also said it was “unfortunate” that the Supreme Court also criticized the practices of the IMA and private doctors. He said that ‘vague and very general statements’ have discouraged private doctors. “We honestly believe that they need to see what content is put in front of them,” he said. “He probably didn’t consider that this was not the issue that was before him in the court.”
Ashokan said, “You can say anything, but most doctors are conscientious… work according to ethics and principles. It does not suit the court to take a harsh stance against the medical profession of the country, which has made so much sacrifice in the Covid war.” Ashokan was replying to a question regarding the observations made by the Supreme Court in the April 23 hearing that when you (IMA) are pointing a finger at someone (Patanjali), the remaining four fingers are pointed towards you.
During the same hearing, the apex court questioned Patanjali’s public apology and asked whether it was tantamount to advertisements published by the company for its products. The matter related to the apology published by Ramdev and his associate Acharya Balkrishna will be considered on April 30. Ashokan said Ramdev opposed modern medicine, saying it was a “stupid and bankrupt science.”
The IMA chief said, “When the government was running the vaccination programme, he (Ramdev) spoke against the national interest. He said that 20,000 doctors died after taking two doses of the anti-Covid vaccine. His stature is so high that you know that people believed his words. It was unfortunate.”
When asked why the IMA clashed with Ramdev despite his big name and political connections, Ashokan said, “He crossed the limit. We have tolerated stupid things in this country for too long. Our profession is also tolerating this and we never wanted this.” The IMA chief said, “They crossed the limit when they advertised about Coronil (Patanjali tablets) and said that WHO (World Health Organization) has approved it which was a false statement.”
He said, “Our leadership thought that they had to be challenged. This was the year 2022 and we had to move forward on this through the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. What happened in the court is two-three years of hard work.”
Ashokan said the IMA has a strong leadership that is considerate of the medical profession and the steps to be taken by the association. He said that this decision was taken in an internal meeting chaired by senior IMA member Dr. Ketan Desai and attended by former presidents and current office bearers of that time.
Ashokan said, “I was the former general secretary at that time. At that time the General Secretary (of IMA) was Dr. Jayesh Lele. So it was a joint decision. We are a team and we look at what is good for the profession. We see from this perspective what is good for the country and not for the doctors’ organization.” He said, “The history of IMA is that we emerged from the Indian freedom struggle. We have been part of the pre-independence Congress movement. Even today our conferences are held on 27th December, the date on which the Congress conference was held.”
Asked whether there was any internal or external pressure, he said, “There was no pressure from any side, but there was a huge reaction on social media and attacks were made because they did not understand what was happening…” Ashokan Said that IMA is not against traditional medical systems. He said, “We all have been living together for so many decades. We respect each other, but some sections of the society thought that we are against traditional practices and as far as public apology is concerned, it amounts to contempt of court…”
The IMA chief said, “The court has not given its final verdict. We need to wait. Whether we are satisfied or not will depend on the decision. It is not about the apology he has given. It is for the court to tell us whether he has crossed the limits by insulting modern medicine.” According to Ashokan, IMA has been continuously providing information to its members about ethics, principles and methods of change.
He said, “Ultimately morality varies with time and place. What you consider right today may not be right after 10 years. “So this is an ongoing process and we keep doing it.” IMA was established in 1928 as ‘All India Medical Association’. In the year 1930 its name was changed to ‘Indian Medical Association’. About 3,85,000 member doctors are associated with 1,800 local branches in 29 states and union territories.
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Tags: baba ramdev, Patanjali, Patanjali Products, Supreme Court
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 29, 2024, 20:32 IST