The decision of Haryana Government to distribute Patanjali's Coronil kit free of cost to the COVID-19 patients has not gone down well with the Indian Medical Association, Haryana. The IMA, Haryana has condemned the decision terming it as “wastage of money.”
A day before, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij had announced to distribute one lakh Coronil kits to COVID-19 patients in the state.
One lakh Patanjali Coronil kits will be distributed free of cost to Covid patients in Haryana. Half of the cost of Coronil will be borne by Patanjali and half by the Covid Relief Fund of Haryana Government, Vij had said.
The announcement has been made amid the controversy surrounding Baba Ramadev's remarks against allopathy medicines and Patanjali's Coronil being sold as a treatment for COVID-19.
Ramdev is the brand ambassador of Haryana for the promotion of Yoga and Ayurveda in the state.
IMA Haryana president Dr Karan Punia while talking to The Pioneer said that the decision will result in an increase in fatality rate due to COVID-19. The procurement of Coronil through COVID Relief Fund is also a waste of money, he said.
There is no study done on the effectiveness of Coronil in treatment of COVID-19. As such, if the government starts distributing it to COVID-19 patients, they will not come forward for treatment and depend on Coronil only, he said. Dr Punia said that at the time when Baba Ramdev is showing disrespect to allopathy medicine and doctors, such a decision by Haryana Government is really unfortunate.
We will oppose the government's decision and we have called a meeting of office bearers of IMA Haryana this week. The future course of action will be decided in the meeting, he added.
Notably, Ramdev's Patanjali had stirred a controversy last year when it began selling Coronil, as a cure for Covid-19. Later, Coronil was repackaged as a Covid supportive treatment and immunity booster. The recent made by Ramdev claiming allopathy as stupid science and condemning modern medicine as for being behind lakhs of deaths in the country for COVID had also received the ire of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).