Question : Management of Novel Corona Virus

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is taking steps to find antidotes to COVID-19 (Novel Corona Virus) in AYUSH, if so, the details thereof including funds allocated;

(b) whether the Government has issued an advisory advocating the use of Unani and Homoeopathy medicines for prevention and management of the disease and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the research that this advisory was based on;

(d) whether any other country has issued advisory prescribing alternate systems of medicines to prevent, treat or manage the disease and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to prevent spreading of misinformation about COVID-19 and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has set up permanent AYUSH research labs to develop solutions to any future pandemics or epidemics and if so, the details thereof

THE MINISTER OF STATE(IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.382* FOR 20TH MARCH, 2020

(a) No, Sir.
(b)Yes, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy are advocated for health promotion and prevention of diseases. As such, the advisory in terms of AYUSH Systems to prevent the outbreak of Corona Virus is general in nature. The Press release advisory (Annexure I-III) was widely published in print and electronic media throughout India.
(c) The Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH) is of view that the positive results from the genus epidemicus as prophylactic during epidemic outbreaks of various diseases during recent past, Scientific Advisory Board of the Council discussed to find out possible genus epidemicus for recent outbreak of corona virus in China. The sign and symptoms of the patients were referred from the recent publication from the clinical history of patients of Wuhan, China in Lancet titled, “Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China”. Analysis of these symptoms was made to find out the genus epidemicus and following recommendation were made:
• Arsenicum album 30C could be advised as Genus Epidemicus as preventive against Coronavirus infection.
• Moreover, Arsenic album is a common prescription in the cases of respiratory infections in day to day practice.
(d) Ministry has no information.
(e) Councils have developed the Information Education Communication (IEC) material to spread the proper information about corona infection where OPD patients are made aware about the same.
(f) CCRH has set up a Virology laboratory at its Dr. Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute of Homeopathy, for carrying out research on disease of viral origin.