NOIDA: The Uttarakhand government's decision to lift the ban on 14 ayurvedic medicines produced by Patanjali has cleared the way for their sale and free distribution across Gautam Budh Nagar district, officials from the district's Regional Ayurvedic and Unani department announced on Friday.
Officials added that the ban on these medications has been lifted, making them available for sale and transportation without any restrictions.
The state drug licensing authority, Ayurvedic and Unani Services Uttarakhand, had in April 2024, suspended the licenses of 14 Patanjali products for not complying with Supreme Court’s rule with regard to misleading advertisements. However, the government has now lifted the ban from the restricted medicines, following a response from the company. Based on the orders received, the ban from 14 medicines has been lifted for now.
Dharmendra Kumar Kaim, Regional Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
The medications, including
Swasri Gold
Swasari Vati
Bronchom
Swasari Pravahi
Swasri
Avaleh
Madhu Grit
Lipidom
Ehegrit Gold
Patanjali Drishti eye drops
were all manufactured by Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurveda Limited.
These products were initially banned in July in Gautam Budh Nagar but can now be sold and transported freely following the lifting of the ban.
The drug regulator of Uttarakhand had suspended the manufacturing licenses for these products, citing "misleading advertisements" regarding their efficacy.
Following the Uttarakhand government directives issued on August 8, all medical practitioners, pharmacies, medical stores, and similar facilities operating in the district are informed that they can now resume the sale, transportation, and production of the 14 drugs.
Dharmendra Kumar Kaim, Regional Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
The company informed a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that it has directed 5,606 franchise stores to withdraw these products from sale. Additionally, media platforms have been instructed to remove advertisements for these 14 products in any form.
The bench directed Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, founded by yoga guru Ramdev, to file an affidavit within two weeks detailing whether social media intermediaries have complied with the request to remove advertisements for the 14 products whose manufacturing licenses were initially suspended but later restored. The affidavit should also confirm whether all advertisements for these products have been fully withdrawn.
In March, the district's regional ayurvedic and unani office banned at least 30 ayurvedic pills and powders being sold in retail shops across Gautam Budh Nagar after tests revealed them to be "spurious" and "adulterated." Several of these products were found to contain compositions of allopathic drugs, including steroids like prednisolone and betamethasone, the anti-inflammatory painkiller diclofenac, and the diabetes medication glimepiride, among others.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a plea from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) accusing Patanjali of conducting a smear campaign against COVID-19 vaccinations and modern medicine.
The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority had previously informed the court that the manufacturing licenses for 14 Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Divya Pharmacy products were "suspended with immediate effect."
On May 14, the apex court reserved its order on the contempt notice issued to yoga guru Ramdev, his aide Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd concerning the misleading advertisements case.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/SIMRAN SETHI/MSM)
