Campaign Against Pseudo-Science Using Law and Ethics (CAPSULE) Kerala, a platform launched by the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, has approached the Kerala State Human Rights Commission against the misleading drugs advertisements being put up in the media.
U. Nandakumar, chairman, and M.P. Anil Kumar, convener, CAPSULE Kerala, said in a complaint filed with the commission on October 22 that many illegal advertisements on drugs were being carried by newspapers, magazines and news channels. They said most of the ads violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954; Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; and the ethical guidelines of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council (TCMC).
As per an order of the Union Ministry for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy on December 21, 2018, only those ads with a unique identification number procured from the Drugs Control Department could be placed in the media from March 22, 2019. CAPSULE Kerala could spot 210 illegal ads in newspapers being published from Thiruvananthapuram between April 1 and 7 this year.
Health magazines too were carrying such ads. Though Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, ban carrying of such ads, the practice continues even after many petitions were submitted to the State Drugs Controller, Deputy Drugs Controller (Ayurveda), and Registrar, TCMC.
CAPSULE functionaries said that such ads not only led to economic exploitation, but also prevented people from seeking proper medical care, thereby aggravating their condition.
