Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over Indian Medical Association Endorsement of Allopathic Medicines

During a hearing regarding a case involving Patanjali’s misleading advertisements, the Supreme Court of India questioned the Indian Medical Association (IMA) about its endorsement of allopathic medicines by doctors associated with the association. The apex court observed that while the IMA had filed a complaint against Patanjali for misleading ads, its own doctors were endorsing allopathic medicines.

The court expressed displeasure over this discrepancy, noting that while the petitioners were pointing fingers at others, four fingers were pointing back at them. Senior Advocate Patwalia, representing the IMA, assured the court that the association would look into the matter. However, Justice Kohli emphasized the importance of addressing such issues, particularly concerning the health of children and babies.

The court highlighted several complaints regarding the alleged unethical conduct of the IMA, including instances where doctors recommended expensive or unnecessary medicines for personal gain. It stressed the need for the petitioner to put its own house in order and ensure ethical practices within the association.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court emphasized that the issue was not limited to Patanjali alone but encompassed all fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies that published misleading advertisements affecting public health. It directed the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and other relevant departments to examine the steps taken to prevent the abuse of laws such as the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

The court scheduled the hearing on additional advertisements by Patanjali for April 30 and set May 7 for addressing the broader issue. The case against Patanjali Ayurved stemmed from a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association in August 2022, citing concerns about the company’s advertisements questioning the efficacy of allopathic medicines and contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Despite court warnings and orders, Patanjali allegedly continued false advertising, leading to contempt notices and a ban on their medicinal product advertisements.