The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified in a tweet that it has not reviewed or certified the efficacy of Patanjali’s Covid-19 vaccine. The statement follows recent statements by Patanjali Ayurved about the global health body’s certification of its product, Coronil.
“The effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 has not been reviewed or certified by the WHO,” the global health body said earlier this week.
.@WHO has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment #COVID19.
— World Health Organization South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) February 19, 2021
Acharya Balkrishna, Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurveda, also took to Twitter and announced that Coronil was awarded the Goods Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant Pharmaceutical Product Certificate (CPP) by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), as per previous reports.
“It is clear that the WHO does not approve or disapprove of any drugs,” Balkrishna’s tweet said. He further claimed that “clarifying to avoid confusion.”
We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India.
It is clear that WHO do not approve or disapprove any drugs.
WHO works for building a better, healthier future for people all over the world. pic.twitter.com/ZEDPdWy0tg— Acharya Balkrishna (@Ach_Balkrishna) February 19, 2021
On Friday, Patanjali said that his Coronil was the first ‘evidence-based medicine of its kind that could protect people from coronavirus.
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and transport minister Nitin Gadkari, in the presence of Patanjali Ayurved promoter Baba Ramdev, participated in the launch of Coronil.
“Coronil has received the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) as per the WHO certification scheme from the Ayush section of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization,” a statement released by Patanjali said.
“Further therapies, including the Coronil tablet, were recommended by the Ministry of Ayush as a “supporting measure (immune booster) in Covid-19”. On June 23, 2020, Patanjali Ayurved launched the Ayurveda-based Coronil.
The company further stated that Coronil could be exported to 158 countries under the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP).
It also reported that Coronil had been recognized by the Ministry of Ayush as a “supporting measure in Covid-19.”
The company had made claims earlier in July 2020 that its vaccine might provide a good defence against the coronavirus. Later, a statement was issued by the Ayush Ministry claiming that Coronil can only be promoted as an immunity booster and not as a remedy.
