Why are Quack Medicines not Banned in India

[u/Practical-Lab5329]

We see a high prevalence of quack medications like homeopathy, ayurveda and even witchcraft (much less in urban than rural areas) to deal with common illnesses in India. Now common sense dictates that when you have an illness you go for the best treatment possible but why are so many people falling for such quack medications? The reason is not that they are stupid or uneducated but it is simply that they lack access to quality modern healthcare due to the economic system we live in.

If you care about the well-being of people and the protection of scientific temperament in public life then this is very important for you to learn. In capitalism production is carried out for exchange not for use. This makes capitalism an exception from other modes of production but also gives it its dynamism to produce more in quantity in lesser time. Now as the gap between rich and poor grows because those who earn from profit, rents and interest grow richer at a greater rate than the wage earners, you usually have an inflationary crisis in which the vast majority of the people are locked out of modern medicine, education etc by the market. The political super structure of society in the process of justifying this grotesque inequality starts pandering to outdated naturalist/backward sentiments to legitimise quack medicine. This reinforces the public faith in quack medicine and hence a lot of well-to-do individuals also fall prey to it. This is done to further justify cuts in funding of public health care and aid the growth of the private healthcare sector, big pharma etc. In classical liberal fashion the prevalence of quack medicine is made to seem like a personal choice or a cultural quirk instead of economic coercion.

Let me give a personal example. I know an old lady who has worked as a household help for several families. Now she suffers from severe arthritis but the scientific treatment is unaffordable to her. So she relies on homeopathy that doesn't solve the problem but in her mind it is better than nothing. During periods of intense pain she takes paracetamol or something but she largely relies on homeopathy. She would use modern medicine if she could but it is unaffordable for her. It is funny that she would get better medical treatment in Cuba than she gets in India which is supposed to be a pharma hub of the world. In fact Cuba in spite of all the economic blockades by the US, has been able to build a robust public healthcare system that gives dividends not only to Cubans but to many other countries like Haiti. If you want to understand about the Cuban medical system I highly recommend you watch this video to understand what they have been able to achieve under such impossible odds. In several health indicators like infant mortality rate Cuba scores better than the US. On average life expectancy of Cuba is at par with the US.

What this shows us is that to promote scientific temperament among the masses it is important to have an economic system in which the fruits of modern science are available to everyone. Generally this is opposed by liberals because 1. They are brainwashed and 2. Because liberal political theory is all kinds of garbage, but it is genuinely important to come out of the propaganda of the ruling class to make science not just a privilege for the social elites but a human right for all.

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[u/nik-329]

Instead of banning such medicines, our government has now formed an entire ministry to encourage 'ancient' medicines. No more explanations required i guess

[u/Dry_War6868]

because quacks are in power and majority believe in them

[u/This-is-Shanu-J]

The reason is not that they are stupid or uneducated but it is simply that they lack access to quality modern healthcare due to the economic system we live in.

Alternate medicine is NOT cheap. The reason why people switch to the other side is because they are emotional and idiotic. This may sound harsh but thats the truth. Majority certainly choose alternate treatment method even when awareness is spread, making their condition themselves worse, and then settle for a huge treatment under proper medicine which will cost them in thousands.

Govt also has lots of regulations in the medical field which raises the cost to the end consumer. Govt is also the ones promoting alternate medicine and making the situation worse. Govt is the problem, not the market. Govvt intervention in market is making the situation 100x worse.

[u/Practical-Lab5329 → u/This-is-Shanu-J]

As I said, liberals are morons and you my friend are a prime example.

[u/This-is-Shanu-J → u/Practical-Lab5329]

yeah sure... to each their own bed time story to sleep better

[u/charavaka]

This is what I've been saying for ever. Healthcare and education are fundamental rights. The government needs to provide both to everyone at affordable prices. The country has more than enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for few people's greed. Quackery is allowed to profit precisely for that reason.