Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken note that the use of homeopathic medicines were not permitted for COVID-19 related treatment;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the directions issued by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) to (c): Yes. Homoeopathy treatment as standalone is not permitted in COVID-19 treatment. However, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India through advisory dated 6.3.2020 and ‘Guidelines for AYUSH practitioners for COVID-19’ allowed AYUSH interventions including homoeopathy as add on to standard of care.
Further, Honourable Supreme Court upheld the advisory of Ministry of AYUSH vide judgement dated 15.12.2020 and permitted the use of homoeopathy medicine as add on to standard of care in COVID-19 treatment.
Ministry of AYUSH has taken following steps with the help of AYUSH systems of Medicine including Homeopathy for COVID-19 related treatment:
(I) Ministry of AYUSH issued an advisory on 29.01.2020 on how to protect oneself from COVID and how to stay healthy.
(II) Vide letter dated 06.03.2020 all Chief Secretaries of States / Union territories were informed about specific suggestions on augmentation of General Immunity of people and about possible AYUSH intervention.
(III) Ministry has also issued self-care guidelines on 31.03.2020 for preventive health measures and boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health.
(IV) Guidelines for Registered Practitioners of respective system of AYUSH (including Homoeopathy) were made available in public domain for the benefit of registered AYUSH practitioners including Homoeopathy to help in the management of COVID 19 pandemic, uniformly.
(V) Ministry of AYUSH through various research organizations and National Institutes under Ministry of AYUSH has conducted about 105 interdisciplinary clinical studies (including 20 studies of Homoeopathy) at 136 centres in the country. Clinical research studies are conducted on AYUSH interventions as prophylactic interventions in high risk population targeting approximately 05 lakhs population and as an add-on to standard care to COVID-19 management.