TN's Indian Medicine board tells Tamil TV channels to stop airing Siddha medical programs

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine has sent notices to all the Tamil Television channels in the State asking them to stop telecast of programmes featuring Siddha medicine programs. The board has said that even qualified Siddha medicine practinioners are barred from self-promotion as per the code of ethics. 

The move comes after the board found that a few unqualified Siddha medicine practitioners were found promising miracle cures in television channels. 

Speaking to Express G Rajasekaran, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine and Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council said, " The notice was issued after we found advertisement by quacks attracting people saying only they have medicines for particular diseases and people get cured when they come to them. As per the Central Council of Indian Medicine guidelines even the qualified persons should not advertise their practice. They can only give awareness on treatment options available in Siddha medicine."

"The notice was sent last week and only one channel responded to the notice saying, they will stop the programme from next week," said Rajasekaran.

The notice issued by the board read, "As per regulation of 24 Code of Ethics framed by Central Council of Medicine, New Delhi, solicitation of patients directly or indirectly either personally or by advertisement in the newspapers, by placards or by distribution of circular cards or hand bills by a practitioner of Indian medicine is unethical".

"A practitioner shall not make use of or aid or permit others to make use of him or his name or photograph as subject of any form or manner of advertising or publicity".

"It is observed that quacks, without proper medical education and without proper registration, in any council, appear in the Television and promise miracle cure and thereby cheating many poor and innocent people, who go there for treatment by spending huge amounts of money".

"I therefore request you 'not to telecast' any programme, both of the quacks and qualified, unregistered doctors as per the above code of ethics," the notice said.

Many regional channels feature the self-proclaimed practitioners, mostly after 11 pm, promising miracle cures for diseases and conditions including infertility, diabetes and piles.