In a landmark ruling, the Madras High Court clarified that Siddha practitioners in Tamil Nadu are allowed to practice modern medicine but are prohibited from storing or distributing allopathy drugs without a proper license. This decision comes as part of a plea filed by a Siddha practitioner, S Sindhu, who faced criminal proceedings for possessing and storing allopathic medicines in her clinic.
The court dismissed her plea, emphasizing that while registered members of the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council can practice modern scientific medicine under the 2010 Government Order, they must not store or sell allopathic drugs without the necessary licenses. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act mandates that storing, distributing, or selling such drugs requires specific authorization.
During the raid, 29 items marked as physician’s samples, several drugs with MRP labels, and some used medications were seized from her clinic in Sembium. The court noted that the violation was not in practicing modern medicine, but in storing the drugs without proper licensing.
This ruling serves as a reminder to all healthcare practitioners about the importance of adhering to legal provisions related to drug storage and distribution.