Homeopathy treatment effective for COVID-19 but ICMR best judge to decide: Delhi High Court
The high court said though the infection rate was very high, the government through its medical protocol was able to control the pandemic and at present, the government has been able to vaccinate the majority of the population as more than 219 crores doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.
FollowThe Delhi High Court on Tuesday (November 1) refused to pass directions for permitting homeopathy treatment for mild COVID-19 cases, saying expert bodies like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are the best judges to decide and accord approval in respect of medical protocol.
The high court said the petitioners shall certainly be free to go ahead with their research or clinical drug trials strictly in accordance with law.
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"It is true that homeopathic medicines are very effective and a large number of people throughout the globe are availing homeopathy treatment, but in cases of pandemic, which protocol has to be validated by the government should always be left to the discretion of the government. Decision of the government in such scenarios is based upon expert opinions and the experts are certainly the masters of the field," a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.
The bench also said that expert bodies such as the ICMR and other statutory bodies are the best judges to decide and to accord approval in respect of medical protocol.
It is not for the courts to comment upon the medical protocols and the guidelines framed on the subject which is, in fact, issued after great research on the subject, the high court said.
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he petitioners had approached the high court seeking to direct Ministry of Ayush to notify homeopathic medicines of Arsenicum album (Phosphorus) Tuberculinum (APT) in series intervention protocol to prevent COVID-19 infections and to allow homeopathic treatment of mild cases of COVID-19 and added therapy in severe to critical cases.
The high court said though the infection rate was very high, the government through its medical protocol was able to control the pandemic and at present, the government has been able to vaccinate the majority of the population as more than 219 crores doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.
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"The petitioners have not been stopped by any authority to conduct research, and the affidavit filed by the respondent no.2 (Central Council for Research in Homeopathy) makes it very clear that a procedure has been laid down for conducting clinical trials, and nobody has prevented the petitioners to conduct clinical trials and to obtain necessary permission required under the law," the bench said.
The bench said at this juncture, especially when the COVID-19 infections have come almost to an end, the court does not find any reason to allow the relief prayed for by the petitioners.
(With inputs from PTI)
