PM urges AYUSH representatives, Ayurveda doctors to counter rumours about Covid-19

Doctor distributing homeopathy medicine claimed to prevent Covid-19 in Hyderabad on March 5 (Photo Credits: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met representatives of the AYUSH Ministry and several Ayurveda doctors and experts via video-conferencing on Saturday to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak. In what is seen as a major step to debunk rumours, PM underlined the importance of countering and fact-checking unsubstantiated claims of AYUSH having a cure for the disease, adding that AYUSH scientists, ICMR, CSIR and other research organisations must come together for evidence-based research. He further urged them to utilise the platform of telemedicine to reach out to the public and generate constant awareness to fight the pandemic. "In absence of a vaccine, doctors are treating Covid-19 positive patients with a combination of allopathic medicine. We have suggested to the PM that after consultation with all the stakeholders, a team of eminent AYUSH doctors and experts with clinical knowledge can make medicine which can safeguard a patient's immunity while making it strong, so that body can act fast on the allopathic medicines and fight the virus. We see a number of famous and expensive brands across the world making immunity boosters that use formulations from Ayurvedic texts. Other AYUSH scientists and experts have also suggested that all the AYUSH hospitals should have isolation wards, along with ventilators and colleges should be turned into quarantine centres in case of an outbreak and medical students should be made volunteers to share the workload. Another AYUSH doctor, Krishan Kumar told India Today, "We have made 5 protocols, and a list of herbs and medicines which can be used not only to boost the immune system but to also help the respiratory system fight the virus. For sports news , updates, live scores and cricket fixtures , log on to indiatoday.in/sports .