AYUSH and IMA controversy continues

Scientists working in the AYUSH fields have hit back at the Indian Medical Association for labelling their medicine systems “unscientific”.

A few days back Indian Medical Association (IMA) representing around 3.5 lakh doctors in the country had slammed Union Health Minister Shri Harsh Vardhan’s move to promote alternative medicines and yoga for Covid-19 patients, and challenged the minister to answer five questions, including how many of his ministerial colleagues have so far got treated under AYUSH protocols.

However, now, about 300 AYUSH scientists working at the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and are part of the CCRAS Scientists Welfare Association (CSWA) have asked the IMA five questions, including on the “silence” of allopathic doctors on the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the Covid-19 treatment protocol. The Current data do not support the use of hydroxychloroquine for prevention or treatment of Covid-19.The efficacy of remdesivir and the steroid methylprednisolone in prophylaxis or treatment of Covid-19 is also questionable

It is high time to stand and protect the respect of traditional systems of medicine. The modern science doctors must believe in their research and processes involved in the AYUSH system

The AYUSH system of medicine has been doing commendable work in the field of research through research councils and national institutes, and also in collaboration with various reputed institutions such as Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Institute of Technology and others. Of the 67 interventional trials registered in India (as on 9 October), 46 cent are based on AYUSH systems, proving that the systems are based on time-tested research studies.

The outcome of this research is being published from time to time through peer-reviewed journals, and 29,576 research papers have been published till date. This evidence shows that the AYUSH system is contributing milestone efforts in fighting the pandemic situation in the country.

One of the most important scientific parameters required to prove the efficacy of a drug is double-blind control studies. The IMA had asked the health minister of any satisfactory evidence regarding the claims made from AYUSH studies done on Covid patients. In response, the AYUSH scientists wrote: that Hydroxychloroquine and methylprednisolone was mentioned in the management of Covid-19 positive patients in the mild situation even without these type of study.

For HCQ, there are no published trials of prophylaxis, and that of the two trials of HCQ treatment that are in the public domain, one is non-peer reviewed. No trials  have appeared supporting the view that HCQ is effective in the management of even mild Covid-19 disease.

Till now 29 double blind studies are either completed or ongoing during the recent past on the diseases of national importance by the reputed research organization of the AYUSH system of medicine.

IMA should be aware that AYUSH institutions are active Covid centres and “AYUSH systems of medicine are holistic and use individualized treatment, due to which blinding (double-blind studies) is not always possible and cannot be considered as gold standard for AYUSH systems of medicine.

Source: The print