Indian State Regulator Suspends Licences of Baba Ramdev’s Pharmaceuticals Amid Allegations of Misleading Advertisements
News Mania desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/3rd May 2024
A regulatory crackdown in India has resulted in the suspension of manufacturing licences for 14 products produced by pharmaceutical companies associated with Baba Ramdev, the country’s renowned yoga guru, due to repeated dissemination of misleading advertisements regarding their efficacy. This move marks the latest setback for Ramdev, whose popularity has soared in India and abroad through his television programs, yoga therapies, and traditional medicinal offerings.
The Supreme Court of India has recently chastised Ramdev for non-compliance with its directives in an ongoing legal battle aimed at curbing the dissemination of misleading advertisements for some of his traditional ayurvedic medicines. Despite the court’s warnings, Ramdev’s companies faced the suspension of manufacturing permits by the drug regulator of traditional medicines in Uttarakhand state, as revealed in an order dated April 15, which has been exclusively reported by Reuters.
The list of suspended products includes Ramdev’s traditional medicines for conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and diabetes. Mithilesh Kumar, representing the state regulator, emphasized in the order that the permits were suspended “with immediate effect.”
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Ramdev declined to provide an immediate response on the matter.
The legal challenges confronting Ramdev stem from allegations made by the Indian Medical Association against his firm, Patanjali, accusing it of disparaging conventional medicines and persisting in the dissemination of misleading advertisements despite a court directive to cease such practices. While Ramdev’s company has issued public apologies through newspaper advertisements, the Supreme Court remains dissatisfied with his actions.
Ramdev himself has appeared before the Supreme Court in recent weeks, clad in his trademark saffron-colored robe, seeking forgiveness for the alleged transgressions. However, the judges have thus far refrained from accepting his apologies, raising the possibility of contempt charges being pressed against him.
The ongoing legal saga underscores the tension between traditional and modern approaches to healthcare in India, as well as the challenges posed by the regulation of alternative medicine and advertising practices in the country. Despite his immense popularity and influence, Ramdev’s businesses find themselves embroiled in a legal quagmire that threatens to tarnish his reputation and impact his commercial ventures.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome will not only shape the future of Ramdev’s enterprises but also have broader implications for the regulation of pharmaceuticals and advertising standards in India’s healthcare industry. The case serves as a cautionary tale for practitioners and businesses operating in the realm of alternative medicine, highlighting the importance of adhering to regulatory guidelines and ethical advertising practices to maintain public trust and credibility.
