Feb 02 2015 : Mirror (Mumbai)
Ahimsa-loving Jain doctors promote ‘veg’ medicines
Jyoti Shelar TWEETS @jyotishelar
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Doctors following Jain religion have come together to promote ‘vegetarian’ medicines. From suggesting alternatives to gelatine-coated capsules, and promoting milk-derived calcium, these doctors are going an extra mile to stick to their religious teachings that call for ahimsa or noninjury.“People who follow our religion, or ahimsa in general, often don’t know that capsules are made of gelatin that is derived out of intestinal fibres of mammals sourced from slaughter houses. Majority of calcium tablets contain calcium derived out of oysters. There is no reason why one should be forced with medicines containing animal products if the alternatives are available,” said paediatrician Dr Bharat Parmar, the president of the Jain Doctors Federation (JDF).
The group is promoting the concept of ‘Ahimsak Chikitsa’ by spreading awareness about medicines containing animal products.
“The medicine packaging does not mention the use of animal products. Thus, most doctors, including Jains, are unaware about this. We are popularising the concept through group chats, online forums, conferences and seminars,“ said Parmar, adding that all medicines in capsule form are also available in tablet form.
“Doctors deal with lives and we don’t want the concept to come in between life-saving measures. But we are asking our doctors to use alternatives as far as possible,” said Parmar, adding that JDF has 15,000 doctors as members in India and more than 2,000 in Mumbai.
For example, all hormonal medicines are now made with synthetic sources but a particular hormone, which is a widely-used blood thinner, is still derived from animals. “We cannot ask anyone not to prescribe this medicine,” said Parmar.
“If the doctors can, they should tell the patient about animal products in the prescribed medicine. Also, since the information is not available handy, we are encouraging doctors to search about raw materials used in the medicines, so that there is increased awareness,” said Dr Mangal Jain, associate professor, department of phar macology, Grant Medical College.
He added that medical practitioners need to study the preparation in detail, including the drugs’ principal ingredients and additives.
Jain said drug manufacturers, too, should provide detailed information about their products, including raw material and its source. He said besides gelatine and glycerine used for binding, tallow used for shining, cochineal used for colouring and several flavour enhancers used in medicines contain animal products.
Meanwhile, vice-president of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Manjiri Gharat, said it is very unlikely for doctors to think on these lines.
“But it is true that all drugs available in capsule forms are made in tablet form too. There are a few exceptions, wherein the drugs are oil based and a capsule shell becomes a must,” said Gharat, adding there may be price variations, too, depending on the drugs.
The group is promoting the concept of ‘Ahimsak Chikitsa’ by spreading awareness about medicines containing animal products.
“The medicine packaging does not mention the use of animal products. Thus, most doctors, including Jains, are unaware about this. We are popularising the concept through group chats, online forums, conferences and seminars,“ said Parmar, adding that all medicines in capsule form are also available in tablet form.
“Doctors deal with lives and we don’t want the concept to come in between life-saving measures. But we are asking our doctors to use alternatives as far as possible,” said Parmar, adding that JDF has 15,000 doctors as members in India and more than 2,000 in Mumbai.
For example, all hormonal medicines are now made with synthetic sources but a particular hormone, which is a widely-used blood thinner, is still derived from animals. “We cannot ask anyone not to prescribe this medicine,” said Parmar.
“If the doctors can, they should tell the patient about animal products in the prescribed medicine. Also, since the information is not available handy, we are encouraging doctors to search about raw materials used in the medicines, so that there is increased awareness,” said Dr Mangal Jain, associate professor, department of phar macology, Grant Medical College.
He added that medical practitioners need to study the preparation in detail, including the drugs’ principal ingredients and additives.
Jain said drug manufacturers, too, should provide detailed information about their products, including raw material and its source. He said besides gelatine and glycerine used for binding, tallow used for shining, cochineal used for colouring and several flavour enhancers used in medicines contain animal products.
Meanwhile, vice-president of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Manjiri Gharat, said it is very unlikely for doctors to think on these lines.
“But it is true that all drugs available in capsule forms are made in tablet form too. There are a few exceptions, wherein the drugs are oil based and a capsule shell becomes a must,” said Gharat, adding there may be price variations, too, depending on the drugs.
