SC says everybody can’t be permitted to treat Covid, seeks Centre response on alternative medicines

New Delhi, Nov 19 : The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from Centre on the manner and extent of alternative medicine that can be permitted as an immunity booster against Covid-19 disease.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was hearing a plea filed by Dr. AKB Sadbhavana Mission School of Homeopharmacy against the Kerala High Court decision in August this year holding that doctor under AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) can prescribe immunity boosters in the backdrop of Covid-19, but it cannot be prescribed as a cure for the viral infection.
The bench also comprising Justices Subhash Reddy and M. R. Shah asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, to file a counter affidavit detailing to what extent the alternative medicine could be are permitted in view of COVID.
The bench queried Mehta, are there any guidelines by the Ministry of Ayush? This has effect all over the country. The bench emphasised that everybody cannot be permitted to treat. Mehta cited the advisory where all the details of usage of medicines was mentioned and submitted that he would place guidelines on record.
The bench noted, “these can be taken not as a cure but as an immunity booster.” Mehta replied, “Yes, they are not a cure, but only a booster.” Concluding the hearing, the bench asked Mehta to file counter affidavit.
The government had submitted before the High Court as per AYUSH advisory tablets are given as immunity boosters and not as a cure for Covid-19.