Coronil has been developed by yoga guru Ramdev-promoted Patanjali Ayurved. (File)
Chandigarh:
Coronil – the controversial ‘ayurvedic medicine’ from yoga guru Ramdev’s company Patanjali – will be part of the Haryana government’s free Covid kit for the patients in the state. State minister Anil Vij tweeted the decision this evening, drawing much criticism on the social media platform.
“One lakh Patanjali Coronil kits will be distributed free of cost to Covid patients in Haryana. Half of the cost of Coronil has been borne by Patanjali and half by the Covid Relief Fund of Haryana Government,” read the minister’s tweet.
हरियाणा में कोविड मरीजों के बीच एक लाख पतंजलि की कोरोनिल किट मुफ्त बांटी जाएंगी । कोरोनिल का आधा खर्च पतंजलि ने और आधा हरियाणा सरकार के कोविड राहत कोष ने वहन किया है।
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) May 24, 2021
Haryana has been witnessing a high number of cases in its rural areas – a situation the state’s BJP government has attributed to the farmers’ continued participation in the protest against the Centre’s farm laws. The state officials have said such meetings amount to super spreader events.
During its launch in February, Coronil generated controversy, with Ramdev claiming that it was the “first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19” made in the presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The Indian Medical Association, in a scathing criticism, questioned how the Health Minister – a doctor could promote a “falsely fabricated, unscientific product” before the country.
Ramdev had claimed the “medicine” had a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) and also the World Health Organisation’s Good Manufacturing Practices certificate – denoting quality assurance in medicinal products.
Ramdev later said a research paper on Coronil – launched as a cure but later given approval as immunity booster — will clear all “suspicions”.
“The government has given the green signal after completing the entire scientific research evidence, which is based on the international parameters. The country and the world also agreed, the WHO also agreed and now we have the option to sell ‘Coronil’ in more than 150 countries with scientific evidence,” Ramdev said.
The WHO in Southeast Asia, however, tweeted that it had not reviewed or certified any traditional medicine for Covid.
The IMA said it was shocked to note the “blatant lie” and that the country “needs an explanation” from the minister.