The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued an advisory to media houses to stop and prevent the publicity and advertisement of AYUSH-related claims for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment in order to prevent dissemination of misleading information about AYUSH drugs and services.
“The Press Council of India advises the print media to stop publicity and advertisement of AYUSH-related claims for COVID-19 treatment in order to prevent dissemination of misleading information about AYUSH drugs and services in view of the emerging threat in the country due to the pandemic,” the media watchdog said in a statement on Friday.
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It had called for necessary action against persons or agencies involved in contravening the relevant legal provisions and the guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik claimed that ayurvedic treatment helped UK’s Prince Charles to be cured of coronavirus.
However, the Prince’s spokesperson on Friday rejected the claim and said that he had “followed the medical advice of the NHS in the UK”.
The Clarence House spokesperson said in an email to The Indian Express on Friday, “This information is incorrect. The Prince of Wales followed the medical advice of the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK and nothing more.”