Haridwar: Healthcare companies, especially those involved in Ayurvedic products, are at the forefront of spreading misleading advertisements. These businesses take advantage of economically disadvantaged individuals by making false assertions and imposing high prices, which not only leads to financial exploitation but also poses serious health risks. In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, numerous companies are operating unlawfully, collaborating with local officials to defraud millions of rupees, primarily targeting vulnerable communities in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi.
One such company, B.C. Hasaram & Sons, has gained notoriety for its deceptive marketing practices. Their website features 14 products, including Kesari Marham, which they claim can cure 80 different ailments, using the image of actor Anil Kapoor to enhance their credibility. Another product, Hari Ganga Balm, is among those that exploit the impoverished with false assurances.
In an informal conversation with employees of B.C. Hasaram & Sons, it became evident that even basic hygiene protocols are not being followed. When asked, Tanuj Chandnani was unable to answer several critical questions:
- Have you secured approval or any license for your medicinal product ‘Kesri Marham’?
- Can you provide a list of the 80 diseases that ‘Kesri Marham’ claims to cure, along with any licenses obtained from government authorities?
- Can you present a detailed report of the clinical trials conducted for ‘Kesri Marham’ to validate its effectiveness on the 80 diseases mentioned in your advertisement?
- Can you provide the patent rights for ‘Kesri Marham’ and other products as granted by any government authority?
In June of the previous year, Drug Controller Dr. Mithilesh Kumar announced that an investigation is in progress. However, local authorities have been unresponsive when approached for comments.
It is concerning that in this contemporary age, medications are being promoted without clinical trials through fraudulent advertisements, with the complicity of officials and the government, potentially putting millions of lives at risk.
Misleading advertisements in sensitive sectors, particularly in baby care, are widespread. Influencers account for 81% of the infractions within the baby care category.
The annual complaint report from the ASCI reveals that Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, topped the list of advertising rule violations, with 186 cases documented in the previous financial year.
A sector-specific breakdown indicates that the healthcare industry represents 19% of all violations, followed by illegal offshore betting at 17%, personal care at 13%, education at 12%, food and beverages at 10%, and real estate at 7%.
Manisha Kapoor, CEO of ASCI, highlighted the importance of advertisers working in conjunction with regulators and platform self-regulators to safeguard consumers, particularly given the rising incidence of online advertising violations.
Additionally, ASCI pointed out that celebrities often promote advertisements that violate the ASCI code, with at least 104 celebrities endorsing 101 such advertisements. These public figures are reminded of their obligation to comply with the Consumer Protection Act of 2019. Over the course of the year, around 250 advertisers were found to be in breach of the ‘Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.’
