GUWAHATI: The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has proposed a draft amendment that will levy stringent punishment of a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs. 50 lakh for advertisements for magic remedies and drugs promoting fair skin, enhancing sexual performance, stammering, infertility in women, premature ageing and greying, increasing brain capacity among others.
The draft amendment has made several additions to the list of diseases, disorders, conditions covered in the Act. The Act says that medicines, "magic remedies" and products to cure any of these 78 diseases, disorders, conditions named should not be advertised.
Under the Act, the first conviction is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or fine or both; and a subsequent conviction can result in imprisonment of up to a year or fine, or both.
