COVID-19: Kerala High Court Disposes Plea Challenging Proposal To Give Homeo Immunity Booster To School Kids

The Kerala High Court on Friday disposed of a plea challenging the proposal to administer a homoeopathic drug, Arsenicum Album 30CH (Ars. Alb. 30) among school students as a preventive measure against COVID-19 without any study regarding its efficacy or safety.

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly directed the petitioner to approach the State with a representation in the matter. The State has been directed to dispose of the representation within 10 days of receipt. 

The petition was moved by a doctor being aggrieved by the launch of a massive campaign by the State, its Ministry of General Education, the Ayush Department and the Directorate of Homoeopathy for administration of Ars. Alb. 30 to school students, under the guise that it is an immunity booster against COVID-19 infection.

It was submitted that no scientific data was available with the respondents positively indicating the efficacy and safety of the drug, although almost two years have elapsed since the Centre declared that Ars. Alb. 30 can be used as a prophylactic against COVID-19, a day before the first case of COVID-19 infection in India was confirmed on 30 January 2021. 

Moreover, a study on adult individuals who consumed Ars. Alb. 30 revealed that they faced symptoms similar to that of individuals who were exposed to Arsenic poisoning.

The petitioner argued that children are more vulnerable to Arsenic toxicity and therefore, the steps taken by respondents of expanding the use of Ars. Alb. 30 to school children was, therefore, inhumane and called for intervention.

Advocates Pirappancode V.S Sudheer and Akash S appeared for the petitioner while ASGI P Vijayakumar appeared for the respondent in the matter. 

Case Title: Dr Cyriac Abby Philips v Union of India & Ors. 

Click Here To Read The Order