Through PTI

MUMBAI: Shashank Joshi, Maharashtra COVID-19 task force member and senior doctor, on Saturday called yoga guru Ramdev’s comments on allopathy bogus and irresponsible.

Earlier today, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) sharply criticized Ramdev’s comments in a viral video where he said allopathy is a “stupid science” and that hundreds of people have died after taking allopathic medicines.

Remdesivir, Faviflu and other drugs approved by India’s Comptroller General of Medicines have failed in the treatment of COVID-19, he added.

“It is wrong to make such irresponsible statements. Remdesivir helps in clinical healing, but it is not a life-saving drug. It does not affect anyone (negatively) either. It is wrong to do so. such statements about allopathy, ”Dr Joshi said, speaking to a Marathi news channel.

“I respect the Ayurveda or Unani systems of medicine,” he added.

The Resident Doctors Associations of the Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital also condemned Ramdev’s statement and demanded that “the strictest measures” be taken against him.

Citing a video circulating on social media, the IMA said Ramdev claimed that “allopathy is a stupid science” and that drugs such as remdesivir, faviflu and other drugs approved by the Comptroller General of India’s drugs have failed to treat patients with COVID-19. “

“Lakhs of patients have died after taking allopathic medicines,” the association said, citing the yoga guru.

Ramdev should be prosecuted under the Epidemic Disease Act because the “uneducated” statements are “a threat to the literate society of the country as well as to the poor who fall prey to them,” said the highest organ of the nation. doctors in a statement.

“The Union Minister of Health (Harsh Vardhan), who himself is a graduate of modern allopathic medicine and head of this ministry (of health), should either accept this gentleman’s challenge and accusation and dissolve the modern medical establishment, or boldly confront and prosecute the person. for his arson remarks on the sovereignty of the country and reserving it under the epidemic law to save millions of people from such unscientific statements, ”the IMA said.

He alleged that Ramdev was trying to take advantage of the situation and create a sense of fear and frustration among the general population.

He does this “so that he can sell his so-called illegal and unapproved drugs and earn money at the expense of the general public,” the association said.

The IMA said Ramdev deserves prosecution for disobeying and endangering the lives of many people by making them believe not to take the advice of allopathic doctors.

“The IMA demands and decides if the Minister (Harsh Vardhan) does not take action suo moto, we will be forced to resort to democratic means of struggle to spread the truth to the common man and knock on the doors of the judiciary to get justice., “It said.

Taking people for ransom and winning business by defaming scientific medicine are unforgivable offenses, the IMA said.

Citing Ramdev’s remarks, he said such “uneducated and uneducated” statements are a threat to society.

In a statement, the Association of Resident Doctors of AIIMS said it “vehemently condemns” Ramdev’s statements.

“On behalf of the medical fraternity, and all healthcare and frontline workers, we strongly demand that strict action be taken against his inappropriate conduct at the earliest to avoid unrest among physicians and anxiety among patients. affected patients and their families, ”said RDA from AIIMS. .

The government should ensure that such provocative videos spreading falsified information are reprimanded, he said.

Ramdev should be reserved under the relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1987 and we demand that he issue an unconditional apology to the scientific community, failing which we will be obliged to call for a public demonstration condemning this act, did he declare.

The Safdarjung hospital GDR said Ramdev’s statement should be considered “hate speech”.

“Ramdev Baba’s statement must be regarded as hate speech and we ask the relevant authorities to reserve it under the relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1987.

We demand an unconditional public apology from Ramdev to allopathy and its practitioners, ”he said in a statement.