New Delhi: Patanjali Ayurveda has once again brewed controversy after it claimed on Friday that its Coronil tablet has received certification from the Ayush Ministry as a medicine supporting COVID-19 treatment as per the World Health Organization's certification scheme.
Patanjali had introduced Ayurveda-based Coronil on June 23 last year, when the pandemic was at its peak. It had to face severe criticism as it lacked scientific evidence regarding its efficacy.
In its recent statement, Patanjali also released what it claimed was research work supporting Coronil's efficacy in COVID-19 treatment.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sidelined itself and clarified in a tweet that it has not reviewed or certified any traditional medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19.
.@WHO has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment #COVID19.
— WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) February 19, 2021
Also Read: AYUSH Ministry, WHO sign pact to strengthen traditional medicine in Southeast Asian Region
This came after Ramdev told reporters at a press conference here that Union Ayush Ministry had earlier categorized ayurvedic Coronil tablets as an 'Immuno-booster'. Now, it has been recognized as a medicine for "supporting the measure in COVID-19" treatment.
"Study on the impact of Coronil on COVID has already been published in leading journals," Ramdev said, adding "it would work not only for treatment, prevention and cure of COVID but also help in after-effects."
This is the first company in India that has received such a license, he claimed as uoted by PTI.
The announcement regarding the Ayush certification for Coronil and the release of a research paper calling it the "first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19 by Patanjali" was done at an event here attended by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
In a statement, Patanjali said: "Coronil has received the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) from the Ayush section of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation as per the WHO certification scheme."
Under CoPP, Coronil can now be exported to 158 countries, it claimed.
Patanjali had introduced Ayurveda-based Coronil on June 23 last year, when the pandemic was at its peak. It had to face severe criticism as it lacked scientific evidence regarding its efficacy.
The Ayush Ministry had classified it as an "Immuno-booster" only.
The ministry earlier this month recognized Coronil as medicine for "supporting the measure in COVID-19" treatment, Ramdev said.
"This certification will remove the misconception about it in people's minds as it cures COVID also," Ramdev said, adding "it will work against asymptomatic, symptomatic and severe (cases) also. We have data for that."
"It received a huge response despite all controversies. We have data which suggests that more than one crore people have consumed it," he added.
Ramdev further said Coronil will help humanity while providing sustainable and affordable treatment.
"Some people manufacture medicines for their business but we have done it for treatment and welfare of the public (upchar aur upkar ke bhavna se)," he said.
After Coronil, Patanjali now plans to introduce more ayurvedic medicines, backed with scientific evidence and certification, he added.
Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala said Coronil has done the business of Rs 500 crore in the last seven months.
However, soon after the statement by WHO rejecting the claims, Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna has made a clarification on Twitter. He wrote, "We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India".
We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India.
It is clear that WHO do not approve or disapprove any drugs.
WHO works for building a better, healthier future for people all over the world. pic.twitter.com/ZEDPdWy0tg
— Acharya Balkrishna (@Ach_Balkrishna) February 19, 2021
Balkrishna also added that "WHO does not approve or disapprove any drugs. Instead, it works for building better and healthier future for people all over the world".
Coronil has been developed by Patanjali Research Institute. It had started work on an ayurvedic remedy for COVID-19 in January 2020.
Also Read: Ayurveda medicine market progressed by 50 to 90 percent post-COVID: Dr Harsh Vardhan