Kerala HC asks State Government to clarify whether there is any prohibition on Homeopathy Practitioners treating COVID-19 patients

The Kerala High Court on Saturday asked the State to respond on whether there is any prohibition preventing homeopathy practitioners in Kerala from practicing their system of medicine in relation to COVID-19 patients..The petitioner, Advocate MS Vineeth, appearing party-in-person, had moved a PIL seeking that the High Court issue a direction against the State to refrain from acting coercviely against homeopathy practitioners treating COVID-19 patients. .The matter was taken up today by a Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chaly via a video conference meeting hosted on Zoom. Following brief submissions, the Bench noted that there is a circular on the issue that has been issued by the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH)..The petitioner, in turn, informed that he was seeking for a direction to the State Government to implement the AYUSH notification, and to permit homeopathy practitioners to practice their medicine while following the advisory. .In response, Government Pleader P Narayanan sought some time to obtain instructions from the Kerala Government on whether there is any prohibition on the treatment of COVID-19 patients by homeopathy practitioners. Recording the request, the Court adjourned the matter to April 17. .Whereas the petitioner made an request for interim directions so that the State does not act against any homeopathy practitioners in the meanwhile, the Bench declined to issue any such direction. Rather, the Bench opined that it would first have to consider whether there is any prohibition in place, and if so, the extent of such prohibition in line with the AYUSH notification.