Modern medicine adopted for treatment of COVID-19; Ayurveda/Homeopathy may be used only for prevention etc. - Kerala Govt tells Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court on was informed on Friday that the Kerala Government had decided to adopt principles of modern medicine for the management of COVID-19, whereas Ayurveda, homeopathy and other alternative medicine may be used for the purpose of prevention, immunity boosting etc..The submission was made by Government Pleader P Narayanan on earlier directions by the High Court to respond on whether there was any bar on homoeopathic practitioners treating COVID-19 patients..A PIL seeking a direction that the State refrain from acting coercively against homoeopathy practitioners treating COVID-19 patients had been moved by Advocate MS Vineeth..The Court today took note of submissions made in the petitioner’s statement indicating that Kerala has not been able to manage all COVID-19 cases, while pressing for homeopathy practitioners to also be allowed to treat the patients..“Kerala is doing the best."the Court orally observed, in response..The Court proceeded to note that a plea to allow homeopathic treatment for COVID-19 has already been dismissed by the Supreme Court earlier this week..In such circumstances, the Court queried if the petitioner wanted to continue pressing for his prayers, when he already had a circular issued by the the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), in his favour..The Court also pointed out that if it is to pass on order on the PIL, it would have to record that the Kerala Government has decided to use only modern medicine for the treatment of COVID-19..“You want adverse orders against you?... It’s up to you”, the Court observed..However, when the petitioner pressed for more time to respond, the Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and TR Ravi took a call to post the case after the vacation instead.