On February 19, Business tycoon Baba Ramdev relaunched the Coronil tablet and claimed that the tablet had received certification from Ayush Ministry as a medicine supporting COVID-19 treatment as per the WHO’s certification scheme. Coronil was launched in presence of Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Later, WHO clarified on Twitter that it has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment of COVID 19.
In June 2020 Baba Ramdev launched coronil without proper scientific evidence and which was still in the trial phase. He also claimed that the medicine has shown 100 per cent favourable results within 3-7 days during clinical trials.
The Union ministry had barred Patanjali from selling it as medicine to cure COVID-19 and it was tagged as an immunity booster. Relaunching Coronil, Baba Ramdev said this is the world’s first medicine against corona and this is a proud matter for all Indians. He also claimed in an interview that the WHO team visited Patanjali and approved it. Attacking his opponents, he said that western medicine is resorting to ‘Medical Terrorism and creating anarchy.
Comparing with Vaccines He claimed that “The recent vaccines are the only tool for presentation but Coronil helps to prevent, diagnose and it will help to get better after diagnosis. “
He also claimed that Coronil has been published in hundreds of medical journals with animal and human trials.
There was some strong reaction from IMA India Medical Association (IMA) and expressed shock over WHO certification and claiming it to be a ‘Blatant lie’
The IMA said, “Being Health Minister of the country, how justified is it to release such falsely fabricated unscientific product to people of the whole country. Can you clarify the time frame, timeline for the so-called clinical trial of this said anti-corona product?”
“The country needs an explanation from the minister. The Indian Medical Association will also write to the National Medical Commission for seeking suo moto explanation for his blatant disrespect to the code of conduct of Medical Council of India,” the IMA added. IMA questioned the government if Coronil was effective, why was the government spending Rs 35,000 crore for vaccination?
Later Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna has issued a clarification stating “We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India,” Balkrishna said.
Maharashtra Home Ministry Anil Deshmukh announced on Twitter that “Launching such a drug hurriedly and being endorsed by two senior Central Union Ministers is highly deplorable. Selling of Coronil without proper certification from competent health organizations like WHO, IMA and others will not be allowed in Maharashtra.”
