KATHMANDU: The Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine has banned the distribution of coronil kits provided by Patanjali Yogpeeth of India to the government of Nepal. It was decided not to distribute the kits immediately after finding that they were not registered with the Department of Drug Administration of Nepal.
The then Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi had received the kits called Coronil given by Patanjali Yogpeeth. The Patanjali had provided 1,500 kits. Patanjali had assisted the Ministry with a packet containing Swasari tablets, nasal oil and coronil tablets.
Director General of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine Dr. Basudev Upadhyaya said that the medicine obtained from Patanjali would be beneficial for respiration but it could not be distributed as it was not registered with the Department of Drug Administration.
“It’s not Coronavirus’s medicine. Its use did not seem to affect health, but we have decided not to distribute it as it is not registered with the Department of Drug Administration,” he said.
Spokesperson of the Department of Drug Administration Santosh KC said that the application for the kits was not approved.
According to the Drugs Management Act, it is not possible to import drugs without registering with the department.
The department has estimated that Patanjali may have intended to sell a large volume of coronil kits by selling government with a little help. This drug has also become controversial in India.
The Indian Medical Association has opposed such kits produced by Patanjali.