New Delhi: The Supreme Court has strongly warned Patanjali Ayurved against the dissemination of misleading advertisements and unfounded claims targeting modern medicines and vaccinations, media reports said.

Following a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the court has directed Patanjali to avoid making misleading statements, warning of huge penalties for failure to comply, Moneycontrol reported.

A bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra underscored that the matter should not be dealt with as a debate between allopathy/modern medicine and Ayurvedic products, according to the report.

Apart from addressing Patanjali's advertising practices, the Supreme Court has urged the Union government to bring a proposal to deal with misleading medical advertisements on a broader scale.

Supreme Court’s emphasis on the need for responsible advertising in the medical field comes after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) flagged Patanjali's campaigns, which appeared to criticize modern medicine and vaccination efforts.

This legal development's repercussions may affect not only Patanjali, but influence the overall framework of medical advertising in India. It could lead to a reassessment of regulations and standards to ensure precise and transparent communication within the healthcare sector.