Government plans separate drug controller for ayurvedic drugs

The Union government is planning to set up a separate Central Drug Controller for traditional medicines with a view to ensuring quality in production standards. This was stated by Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, on November 6, 2014 while inaugurating the first Arogya Expo organised by the Ministry’s AYUSH Department as part of the World Ayurveda Congress in New Delhi.  
 
Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that though India has huge experience and strengths in traditional medicine it has not translated into market shares in the global traditional medicines market. “Call it whatever - ayurvedic medicines or herbal medicines or traditional medicines - the global market is estimated at about $ 100 billion today. India’s share in this is negligible because quality standards are not maintained to international specifications. The government has decided to address this lacuna,” he added.
 
The institutionalisation of a regulatory authority backed up by central and state laboratories would ensure for traditional and indigenous medicine pride of place in mainstream healthcare, the Health Minister said.
 
Dr Vardhan pointed out that his respect for Ayurveda does not sprint from emotions but scientific understanding. He said, “In this age no single stream of medicine is supreme. This is the age of holistic medicine and I wish to give India an edge in this.”
 
With the world’s disease burden in non-communicable diseases growing, there is a new mindset in favour of holistic treatment. Also, with the explosion of information on the Internet people are getting aware of Ayurveda’s approach of treating each human body as unique, the Health Minister stated.
 
He regretted that India had ‘missed the bus’ in terms of capitalising on her headstart in the traditional medicines sector. “It is a pity that China has captured such a huge share of the world market whereas India’s presence is non-existent. We are determined to develop Brand India through Ayurveda,” added Dr Vardhan.
 
With the launch of the National AYUSH Mission, the government, according to Dr Vardhan, will focus in detail on building up a brand value for Ayurvedic drugs manufactured in the country.  The new thrust on preserving and promoting AYUSH, as articulated by the Prime Minister, is expected to lead to a huge boom in the traditional medicine sector, the Minister said.
 
Accordingly, the Minister has made provision for financial support to be provided to traditional drugs manufacturing companies to enhance their quality lines and help them meet global standards. Drug testing laboratories will be set up at the state level in due course and regulatory arrangements are also proposed there.