New Delhi: There are huge numbers of people in India who bank on ayurveda and natural remedies. While so far there have been no cases of any mass side effects yet the apprehensions raised by various western medical experts are mostly on the enough evidence and manufacturing process. Keeping that in view, the government of India is taking steps for the modernization.
Infact, the Ayurvedic Drugs Manufacturing Process Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945 have provisions for manufacturing of Ayurvedic drugs under license in accordance with the quality standards prescribed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia and Good Manufacturing Practices provided in Schedule-T. Evidence of safety and effectiveness is required for obtaining license to manufacture Ayurvedic medicines and shelf-life or date of expiry of various dosage forms has been prescribed in Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Mr Shripad Yesso Naik who replying to a specific question in the Parliament on August 2, 2016, “Due to emerging trade and export opportunities for ayurvedic medicines, voluntary quality certification systems in accordance with WHO-GMP guidelines and Quality Council of India scheme of AYUSH Premium Mark have been introduced. Augmentation of pharmacopoieal standards has also been taken up for improving the quality of ayurvedic medicines.”
A proposal to frame legislation for regulating education and profession of pharmacy of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy and set up a Central Council for this purpose is under consideration of the government.
Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 has provisions under Section 17 that no person other than a qualified practitioner can practice Indian Medicine in any state and penal provision also given in the Act for any person, who acts in contravention of such provision. Recognized qualifications of Indian Systems of Medicine are mentioned in the second, third and fourth schedules of the Act. Since health is a state subject and register of practitioners is maintained by the state government, it is the responsibility of the state to take steps for preventing unskilled and unqualified persons from practicing Indian Systems of Medicine.
