SubscriberWrites: Pseudoscience must be tackled with stringent state policies, scientific discourse

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A big Caveat in Indian scientific discourse is that we have fundamentally disobeyed our Indian Constitution 51 (A) part (h) which states that to have a scientific temperament is one of citizen fundamental duties. No government can make sure that 1.3+ billion people be scientifically educated/trained but when government create and promote pseudoscience through institutions and its platforms in the name of Ancient National Science establishments which can instill proud and patriotism in public is fatal.

Nation and Societies should be proud of their scientific heritage but as science is always progressive and it rechecks its pasts definitions, nations must allow global scrutiny and validation of state anecdotal facts to certify it to an international level. Science is always global and any voice of question must be respected, listened and channelized. Any attempt to block such screenings would not be in favor of science and National ambition may become a National Embarrassment for its people.

Take an example of China, where in ancient Chinese traditional medicines it was believed that plant ‘Artemisia annua’ which is found mostly in temperate Asia has anti-malarial properties. Chinese army set up Project 523 in 1967 to investigate it. Finally, after years of clinical trials ‘Artemisia’ is now globally certified as ‘Treatment for Cerebral Malaria’. This novel therapy was awarded 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

India on the other hand have a similar situation but we are stuck to not proceeding towards any clinical trials. India does have Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945. Government amended these acts in 1959 to include drugs from traditional medicine. Since then, there are several loopholes like compound formulation policy in different states and over the counter drug policy and many more, in these acts which promotes pseudoscience.

In 2009 also there were guidelines by National Medicinal Plant Board with some base by GACP by WHO. But again, these guidelines are rarely followed. India must apply stringent guidelines as USA FDA which do not consider Herbal Medicines as Medicines but as Dietary Supplements. These loopholes are also rampant in Pharma Industry, largely exposed and described in ‘Book of Lies’ by Katherine Eban.

Recently a Hepatologist from Kochi Dr Cyriac Abby Philips who frequently raises voices against quackery moved Kerela High court against government policy to give Homeopathic drugs mainly Arsenicum Album 30CH to school kids in the name of Immunity booster. Dr Philips submits studies which show Arsenic Toxicity due to these drugs. These kind of state policies which lack scientific data and analysis are often the reason pseudoscience spreads in public unknowingly what is famously called in journalism as ‘Hypodermic Needle-Model’.

Pseudoscience devastating consequences does not stop only to drugs, but metastasis within minds of people which give rise to pseudo-education which supports ideas of quackery. It becomes like a toxic silent Haplotype (gene which passes from one generation to another). There is certainly no doubt that government support to courses in universities which have deep links with pseudoscience and irrationality have risen. Recent lectures/presentations in Indian Science Congress which were condemned globally for pseudoscience is prime example how even so called ‘trained’ scientist can add fire to winds of pseudoscience.
India has one another giant source of pseudoscience – ‘Elected Representatives’.

Voices like Ayurveda curing Prince Charles of COVID, ‘Papad’ cures COVID, Darwin Theory is incorrect etc. which are authenticated bites of prominent people’s representatives. COVID Pandemic saw the worst or best of pseudoscience when Health Minister publicly promoted so called COVID curing ayurvedic tablets. It became further source of embarrassment when WHO had to put out a notice certifying that WHO does not endorse such ‘tablets’ claims.

India is a land of great democracy, leaders and millions of followers. But sometimes a blind faith to elected representatives specially in matter of rationality and science often have devastating results.

Tackling Pseudoscience is a definitely a tough task, as credible sources are also vulnerable to regressive ideological perspectives, for example promotion of ‘Ivermectin’ or ‘Remdesivir’ for COVID when studies results were against them. But certainly, one can make himself/herself aware about facts through reading from credited sources and perform make sure to obey our fundamental duties as Citizens stated by our Indian Constitution 51A part(h).

These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.

Also read: ‘Citizen science’ can help India boost scientific understanding, curb WhatsApp pseudo-science