A Parliamentary panel has recommended a ban on showing “misleading” advertisements on television about traditional medicines providing relief in serious ailments and suggested penalising the offenders by amending the relevant law.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its 95th report on Demands for Grants 2016-17 of the Ministry of AYUSH noted that there has been recurring delay in amending the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements ) Act 1954.
“The committee recommends that the Ministry should vigorously pursue the matter of amending the said Act and Rules thereunder.
“The committee also recommends that apart from giving sharper teeth to the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, a provision should also be incorporated in the relevant rules to ban such practices and penalize offenders,” the committee chaired by Ram Gopal Yadav said in its report.
The Act controls advertisements of drugs in India. It prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties.