After Tamil television channels in the State failed to respond to the notices issued by Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine (TNBIM), the board has approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Advertising Standards Council of India requesting them to instruct these channels to stop telecasting programs, both of quacks and qualified.

The move came after TNBIM found that a few unqualified Siddha medicine practitioners were promising miracle cures on this television channels. Many regional channels are featuring the self-proclaimed practitioners, promising miracle cures for diseases and conditions, which also includes infertility, diabetes and piles.

A written letter has been submitted to TRAI and Advertising Standards Council of India stating that “As per regulation 24 of Code of Ethics framed by Central Council of Indian Medicine, 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”.

The letter also said that it is observed that a lot of quacks appear on television and promise miracle cure and thus cheat many poor and innocent people, seek treatment by spending huge amount.

Registrar, TNBIM and Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council, G Rajasekaran, said that they had sent notice last year, but no one responded except one channel. Therefore, they wrote the letter to TRAI and Advertising Standards Council of India recently. However, they are yet to get any response from these channels.