ISM Ethics Committee Flags Repeated Violations, Imposes ₹50,000 Penalty
Thiruvananthapuram: A registered Ayurveda practitioner in Kerala has come under the scanner for allegedly promoting his so-called “Ayurvedic Drop Therapy” on social media, claiming it can completely cure serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer and ulcers.
Video Claims Trigger Controversy
The controversy erupted after a video was uploaded on the Facebook page of an Ayurveda hospital in Pathanamthitta, in which the doctor spoke about a “special asthma treatment” that he claimed was being offered through 25 centres across the State.
Ethics Committee Takes Action
Terming the claims a violation of professional ethics, the Ethics Committee of the Council of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the practitioner. However, he has been given the option to appeal before the Board of Ethics and Registration of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), New Delhi.
Complaint by Health Advocacy Group
As per a report by The Hindu, the issue came to light after CAPSULE Kerala, a health advocacy group linked to the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad, filed a formal complaint after noticing the advertisement on social media.
Allegations of Multiple Cure Claims
The complainant alleged that the doctor claimed to cure a wide range of chronic and serious ailments, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, uterine problems, cancer, brain tumours, liver cirrhosis, allergies and varicose veins. He was also accused of promoting a product named ‘Sidhan’s Vericoil’ in the video.
Doctor’s Explanation Rejected
Summoned by the ISM Council, the practitioner claimed that a blogger had recorded the interview and that hospital staff uploaded it on Facebook without his consent. He also stated that the video was later removed. However, the council did not accept this explanation.
History of Ethical Violations
The council noted that this was not the first instance of misconduct. In 2018, the doctor was censured for misleading advertisements after the Deputy Drugs Controller (Ayurveda), Kerala, complained about newspaper ads promoting ‘Ayurvedic Drop Therapy’ as a complete cure for diabetes, obesity and asthma. Despite assurances, further complaints emerged in 2019, leading to a one-month suspension of his registration following directions from the State Human Rights Commission.
Repeated Breach of Regulations
On December 18, 2025, the Ethics Committee observed that the practitioner continued to violate medical ethics by shifting promotions from print media to social media. The committee ruled that this amounted to a clear breach of Regulation 27(b)(l) of the NCISM (Ethics and Registration) Regulations, 2023, prompting the imposition of the fine.
