Thiruvanantpuram: The Ethics Committee of the Council of Indian Systems of Medicine, Kerala State Medical Councils, has imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on a registered Ayurveda practitioner for advertising his “Ayurvedic Drop Therapy” through various media, including social media, claiming it to be a complete cure for diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, ulcers etc. in violation of professional ethics.
The Council of Indian Systems of Medicine took action against K. Sidharthan, a registered Ayurveda practitioner, following a complaint by CAPSULE Kerala, a health advocacy outfit of the Kerala Sasthra Sathithya Parishad. The latter had brought the attention of the council to a video posted in the Facebook page of an Ayurveda hospital in Pathanamthitta, wherein Dr. Sidharthan had posted a video about the special asthma treatment that he was offering through 25 centres across the State.
The Council of Indian Systems of Medicine took action against K. Sidharthan, a registered Ayurveda practitioner, following a complaint by CAPSULE Kerala, a health advocacy outfit of the Kerala Sasthra Sathithya Parishad. The latter had brought the attention of the council to a video posted in the Facebook page of an Ayurveda hospital in Pathanamthitta, wherein Dr. Sidharthan had posted a video about the special asthma treatment that he was offering through 25 centres across the State.
CAPSULE Kerala said in its complaint that Dr. Sidharthan has claimed in the said video that he was providing a cure for several chronic diseases, including diabetes, thyroid, uterine disorders, cancer, brain tumour, liver cirrhosis, allergy-related problems and varicose veins. He was also promoting his product named ‘Sidhan’s Vericoil’ through the videos.
Dr. Sidharthan, when summoned by the Ethics Committee of the ISM Council, said that a blogger had recorded an interview with him and that it was posted on the FB page of the hospital by the hospital staff without his knowledge. He claimed that the post had been removed later.
The ISM Council noted that this was not the first time that the Ayurveda practitioner was committing this ethics violation. In 2018 also, the council had censured Dr. Sidharthan against giving misleading advertisements.
In 2018, the Deputy Drugs Controller (Ayurveda), Kerala had forwarded a complaint to the council recommending action against him for advertising ‘Ayurvedic Drop Therapy’ through newspapers, claiming it to be a complete cure for diabetes, obesity, asthma etc., and thereby violating professional ethics.
At the time, Dr. Sidharthan had agreed before the council that he would not advertise or make false claims in violation of professional ethics.
But in 2019, there were more complaints against him and the State Human Rights Commission had also directed action against him. The ISM Council had again summoned him in person and had suspended his registration for a month.
The Ethics Committee of ISM Council which on December 18, 2025, pointed out that the Ayurveda practitioner was repeatedly violating medical ethics . During the hearing, he claimed that he no longer advertises in print media but it was evident that he was soliciting patients through advertisements in social media, which amounted to a clear violation of Regulation 27 (b) (l) of the NCISM (Ethics and Registration) Regulations, 2023.
A fine of ₹50,000 was imposed on Dr. Sidharthan. He, however, is free to go on appeal before the Board of Ethics and Registration, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, New Delhi.
