Mumbai: Patanjali’s recent campaign against allopathic medicines was termed a "breach of medical ethics" by the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Recently, Patanjali issued a series of advertisements on "misconceptions spread by allopathy." The advertisement claimed that chronic diseases like hypertension, blood sugar, thyroid, asthma, and incurable diseases like autoimmune disorders and heart blockages can be cured by yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy.

The Maharashtra chapter decided to file a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the advertisements. Dr. Santosh Kadam, general secretary, IMA-Maharashtra, stated that the advertisement breached medical ethics. He pointed out that in the field of medicine, one cannot advertise to seek patients.

Dr. Ravindra Kute, president of IMA-Maharashtra, explained that the advertisement is misleading as chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes cannot be cured, although patients are recommended to modify their lifestyles to cope with the ailments. Similarly, Dr. V. Mohan, a member of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI), tweeted that Type I diabetes patients should not stop insulin and that the advertisements are misleading patients with false claims.