Sh Azad Reaffirms Commitment to Mainstream Ayush

Sh Azad Reaffirms Commitment to Mainstream Ayush



The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad has reaffirmed his commitment to lay greater emphasis on the traditional system of medicines and utilise the AYUSH and allopathic systems in a synergistic and complementary fashion. Sh Azad was speaking at the Middle East Natural & Organic Product Expo, MENOPE- 2011 expo in Dubai today. MENOPE is an exhibition with exclusive focus on natural and organic products. The expo over the years has helped many global companies launch into the Middle East market. MENOPE attracts serious trade buyers from across the region – from the Gulf countries as well as from the wider market of Middle East, African and Asian countries including India.

Speaking on the occasion Sh Azad took pride in sharing with the audience that India is producing huge human resource annually in the field of traditional medicine and world should be coming forth to utilise this resource pool for greater good. He also said that India has already acknowledged the importance of traditional system of medicines and has taken meaningful steps to integrate the AYUSH professionals in the mainstream of healthcare system. Sh Azad highlighted that three new AYUSH national institutes have been set up , pharmacopoeia commission has been established, international collaborations have been worked out . “GOI is contemplating to put renewed focus on research and quality control during 12th plan period”, he added. He also elaborated that a separate commission to regulate the human resources in AYUSH shall be set up and a standalone Drug Controller will be put in place for better standardisation of ASU&H pharmaceuticals.

Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad paid a visit to the various stalls laid by representatives of various organisations in MENOPE- 2011 being held in Dubai. MENOPE has become an annual feature since 2003 when its first edition was launched in Dubai. This year the event has been organised by Global Links Dubai in partnership with the Ministry of Health UAE, Dubai Municipality and other UAE partners. Representatives from 25 countries participated in the EXPO including Austria, Romania, Australia, Lebanon, Philippines, France, Taiwan, etc. to exhibit their products.

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(Release ID :78221)

Slew of Initiatives for Ayush Sector in XIITH Plan: Sh Azad

 Slew of Initiatives for Ayush Sector in XIITH Plan: Sh Azad

courtesy:PTI

The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced a host of new initiatives being considered for AYUSH sector in the XIIth Plan subject to availability of funds. The Minister was speaking at the Inaugural Function of the 66TH World Homeopathic Congress organised in New Delhi today. Shri Azad said that more stress will be given in the XIIth Plan for Integration of AYUSH systems in health care delivery and their incorporation in National Health Programmes through co-locating such facilities with our sub-centres and primary health care centres.

Speaking about the new initiatives being considered for XIIth Plan, Shri Azad said a National Commission for Human Resource in AYUSH will be set up to undertake a comprehensive work force study and formulate action plans for inter sectoral co-ordination. It is also proposed to set up Referral hospitals in eight National Institutes to provide world class treatment facilities with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation for secondary and tertiary level health care along with Research and Quality Control Laboratories in these Institutes to expand the quality testing facilities in the country for ASU&H products as well as promoting research and training activities at institutional level, he said. Five Hi-Tech Quality Control Labs would be set up under the Research Councils at regional levels with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation to expand the quality control to the highest standards, Shri Azad informed. A National Institute of Medicinal Plants is envisaged, which would provide training facilities, demonstration at site, raw materials processing and testing facilities and drugs repository. It is also proposed to have a Central Drugs Controller for AYUSH drugs to facilitate standardization of ASU products and effective enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act with a view to ensure high quality health products to the consumers. During the 12th Plan, the Department also proposes to set up a Homoeopathic Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited to provide facilities for manufacturing of Homoeopathic medicines to ensure quality and timely supplies to dispensaries, the Minister announced. The Department also intends to set up an All India Institute of Homoeopathy to fulfill the emerging interest of scientists for research in homoeopathy and inculcate better inter-disciplinary understanding for promoting evidence-based use of homoeopathy, Shri Azad stated.

Recalling the highlighting of important achievements of the Department of AYUSH during the 11th Plan, the Minister said three National Institutes were set up during this period, viz, The North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine, Passighat, Arunachal Pradesh, set up at a cost of Rs.30 crores and the OPD functioning from 2009; The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya, started its OPD from October 2010 at a total cost of Rs. 58 crores; The All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi also started operations from September, 2010 and will be completed at the total cost of Rs.90 crores. A Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine was set up this year. Development of identity and quality standards of 256 Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) and 92 homoeopathic drugs was done, including quality testing of 1342 ASU and 3709 homoeopathic samples during the 11th Plan. Chairs in Ayurveda and Unani were established in Charite, University of Western Cape, South Africa in 2011 to propagate the teaching of these systems. 1933 Public Health Centres, 260 Community Health Centres and 83 District Hospitals have been supported since 2005 for setting up AYUSH facilities. During the period of the 11th Plan from 2005-06 to 2011-12, Twelve State Drug Testing Laboratories, 17 Pharmacies, 34 State Drug Licensing Authorities, 62 proposals of strengthening enforcement mechanism of ASU drugs and 11 proposals of strengthening in-house quality control laboratories of drug manufacturers were supported by the Department. As a part of National Mission on Medicinal Plants, 732 Nurseries have been set up since 2005 and 70,267 hectares of land have been covered for cultivation of Medicinal Plants, Shri Azad noted.

Addressing the international experts of Homeopathy who have assembled for the four-day Conference on the theme of ‘Homeopathy for public Health Issues’, Shri Azad stated that in India the Government provides opportunity to every recognized medical system to develop and be practiced with a view to provide integrated and holistic health care services so as to encourage a pluralistic health care delivery system. Shri Azad said many countries are facing challenges in providing basic health care to their citizens due to rising costs of increasingly complex technologies. In this context, systems like Homoeopathy could be useful, where relevant, he emphasized. “World Professional bodies like Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis have an important role to play here by addressing the skepticism surrounding the scientific nature and reliability of this system of medicine. It is for LMHI and its members to endeavour to find answers to such misconceptions by showing how the Homeopathic science has evolved over the last 200 years and contributed in overcoming some of the challenging epidemics and other diseases”, the Minister said. “The primary health care approach, beginning with the Declaration of Alma-Ata more than 30 years ago, recognized that prevention requires collaboration with multiple health sectors. This is where the relevance of Homoeopathy in health care could come in. The medicines in homoeopathy are widely used in curative care since they are seen as being cost effective, simple and also due to the fact that they are seen to cure certain diseases for which there is no known or effective treatment in other systems’, the Minister said.

Shri Azad added that India takes pride in the fact that we have the largest number of traditional and alternative medicine teaching institutions in the world. The Department of AYUSH intends to put in more concerted efforts to streamline the quality of education during 12th Plan with the objective of imparting high quality training and achieving clinical excellence in all our traditional and alternative systems’ doctors. He noted that we are also training students from many neighboring countries and that India will continue to be the major hub for all systems of medical education, including homoeopathic education, in Asia with its focus on excellence. Shri Azad said India would be happy to help countries like Srilanka in augmenting their Human Resource needs in field of Homeopathy.

Shri Azad honoured many senior Homeopaths on the occasion as also released books and software prepared by subject experts. The Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka, Shri Salinda Dissanayake, Minister of Health, Medical Education and Elections, Government of Haryana, Secretary Department of AYUSH, GOI Shri Anil Kumar, office bearers of LMHI and other subject experts were present on the occasion. Dr. Jose Matuk Kanan, President, LMHI declared the Congress open for scientific session proceedings. About 2400 delegates from 35 countries are participating in this congress, being hosted in India for the fourth time after the earlier congresses held in 1967, 1977 and 1995.

Dept of Ayush proposes DCGI post exclusively for Indian medicines

Dept of Ayush proposes DCGI post exclusively for Indian medicines






Joseph Alexander, New Delhi
Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]


With the Indian system of medicines including Ayurveda getting increased attention from world around, the Department of Ayush is pushing the idea of setting up a Central Drug Controller for Ayush drugs separately for ensuring quality of drugs in the sector.

The Department has already forwarded the proposal in this regard to the Planning Commission for consideration and inclusion in the final Plan for the 12th Five Year Plan period with an estimated allocation of Rs.166 crore, sources said.

“The Expenditure Finance Committee at its meeting held in April, 2010 under the chairmanship of Secretary (Expenditure) had agreed to create infrastructure of Central Drug Controller for Ayush drugs. Allocation of Rs.166.00 crore has been projected for this purpose in the 12th Plan. Under the Central Drug Controller for Ayush Drugs, 40 posts including 25 regular and 15 contractual/outsourced posts will be created and in addition salaries of scientific manpower in 30 state-run Drug Testing Laboratories will be borne during 12th Plan period. This provision will be made under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Drugs Quality Control under the head - Promotion of Ayush,’’ sources said.

Presently the demand for traditional Indian medicine -- Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other herbal products -- has increased tremendously in India and abroad. The world herbal market is estimated to be $62 billion out of which the share of China is $19 billion and that of India is only $1 billion. There are around 10000 ASU drugs manufacturing units in the country at present, according to the note by the Department.

“To facilitate the increased acceptability of ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani) medicines within the country and abroad, the core issue is the quality and standardization of ASU products and effective enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetic Act. It is recommended by the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs Consultative Committee (ASUDCC) chaired by DCGI that a separate Central Drug Controller for ASU drugs may be created,’’ sources said.

Taking into consideration the importance of the sector, the planned Central Drug Authority of India (CDAI) had proposed the induction of an additional drug controller general for Indian systems of medicines. At present, the post for the Additional DCGI for Indian medicines has been lapsed. This post would be revived to assist the DCGI for quality control and regulations of Indian systems of medicines and homoeopathic products, according to the proposal.

The CDAI also proposed to have five assistant drug controllers to govern the ASU sector, and one each would be posted in five zonal offices of Chandigarh, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata to assist the Deputy Drug Controllers. However, with the lapse of the very proposal to set up CDAI, the plans to strengthen the regulatory mechanism for ASU drugs also lapsed.

Ayurvedic medicine to combat disease in T&T

 Ayurvedic medicine to combat disease in T&T

Published: Mon, 2011-11-07 00:03
Paras Ramoutar

Ayurvedic medicine could help in combating diseases in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. This can be facilitated through the establishment of a centre for Ayurvedic medicine in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications, Dr Surujattan Rambachan told the opening session of the Ayurvedic Seminar and Workshops at the Divali Nagar he hoped the sessions will bring “enlightenment on the value and benefits which can be derived from Ayurvedic medicine, as well as, the role of traditional healing in combating diseases in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.”

Dr Rambachan said he welcomed the opportunity for dialogue and partnerships with all stakeholders, local and international, to create sustainable avenues for growth. “We hope that the discussions taking place will lead to greater collaboration and the exchange of ideas and views will set the foundation for a mutual beneficial relationship between the Ayurvedic institutions of India and our local practitioners and institutions,” he said. Rambachan and his colleagues, Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan and Minister of Tourism Dr Rupert Griffith met with members of a delegation led by Shri Anil Kumar, Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and the Indian High Commissioner, Shri Malay Mishra

Traditional system of family physicians could be revived by 2050:

Traditional system of family physicians could be revived by 2050: Prof P M Bhargava

The age-old tradition of having a family physician, a concept which has no takers in the current times of super-specialists, may be once again revived by the year 2050.

“Also, plant-based drugs which are common in all the five traditional alternative medicine: AYUSH, will be used for making drugs in future,” said renowned scientist and recipient of Padma Bhushan, Prof P M Bhargava here on Thursday.

Emphasising that specialty in the medical care is proving a threat to the patients as in most of the cases the patient needs general treatment; he predicted that by 2050 the government sector hospitals and all rare and tertiary care cases will be taken care of by private sector hospitals. He also said, “Unlike today, most of the tests would be done at home using portable kits and people would no longer need to go through the cumbersome process of waiting for test reports.”

He also insisted that institutes like PGIMER should start MD in Family Medicine which is presently offered only by the University of SCIENCES, Kolkata, to revive the tradition of a general physician.

He was sharing his vision as part of the 3 RD Professor R N Chakravati Memorial Oration Lecture, titled : The likely Scenario of medical and Health care in 2050 at PGI.

Prof Bhargava elaborated that at present as many as 40,000 formulations made from plant extracts are there in practice in India by Ayurveda practitioners and in coming days out this at least 4,000 formulations will be come in picture. “Medicines made from these plant extracts will be cheaper. There are many diseases that would get eradicated from the scene including malaria, tuberculosis, polio, leprosy, filarial, yellow fever, plague, cholera but new viral diseases will come and there will be increase in environment – induced diseases-allergy, asthma etc”.

University student missing in Jaffna
[TamilNet, Monday, 28 November 2011, 09:23 GMT]

A student of the University of Jaffna, 27-year-old Vetharaniyam Latheesh, was missing after he left the gents hostel (Balasingham Hostel) of the University of Jaffna in Thirunelveali by 6:45 pm, Sunday evening. The student, studying at the Siddha Medicine department of the university located at Kaithadi, and used to stay in the hostel there, had come to the university hostel in Thirunelveali to meet a friend. University circles fear that the SL Army that was deployed in large numbers around the university campus on Sunday might have abducted him. A relative of Latheesh, who made a mobile call to him and got connected, heard his abductors talking in Sinhala and beating him, asking “kawuda” (who). The University Students Union has confirmed the abduction of Latheesh.

Mr. Latheesh, comes from the coastal village Aazhiyava’lai in Vadamaraadchi East in the Jaffna district that was formerly under the LTTE control.

Studying in Jaffna, he was arrested by the SL military during the war and was kept in detention at Poosa for a long time. He was released to continue his studies at the intervention of the university after the war.

As he had found his house at Aazhiyava’lai completely razed down, he was staying in the Kaithadi hostel and was being supported by his relatives.

‘Abductions’ have once again escalated in Jaffna, and the abduction of Lathesh creates much tension in the university community.

Working Group recommends 12 times hike in allocation for Ayush during 12th Plan

Working Group recommends 12 times hike in allocation for Ayush during 12th Plan
Joseph Alexander, New Delhi
 Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST] 

The Working Group on Ayush set up by the Planning Commission has recommended a 12-fold increase in the allocation for the Department under the next Five Year Plan. Against Rs.3988 crore of the 11th Plan, it has suggested Rs.47,535.55 crore, including transfer of Rs.10,000 crore from National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) flexipool for implementation.

The ongoing schemes of 11th Plan comprise of eleven Central Sector Schemes with allocation of Rs.2053 crore and three Centrally Sponsored Schemes with allocation of Rs.1935 crore. The total allocation amounted to Rs.3988 crore. The 38th Report of the Public Accounts Committee (2006-07) has seriously pointed out that the share of Ayush in the total health plan at the central level has been only 2 per cent in spite of the policy pronouncement of raising Ayush share to 10 per cent with designated growth of 5 per cent in every Five-Year Plan. Inadequate allocation for Ayush has been considered by PAC the main reason for not achieving the set targets, the working group said.

“Accordingly, the 12th Plan allocation for Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes is proposed to be enhanced almost by 7 times and 17 times respectively, including the transfer of Rs.10000 crore from NRHM Flexipool. This has led to total projected allocation of Rs.47535.55 crore (about 12 time-hike from 11th Plan allocation) to pave for effective implementation of projects in strategic thrust areas identified above and to step up the process of mainstreaming of Ayush,” the report said.

Necessary updating and revision of the norms, without making any structural change or change in the funding pattern of the schemes, will be done to ensure that the objectives of the schemes are adequately met, project proposals in targeted thrust areas are properly funded and the outcomes happen to be of long term value for the Ayush sector, it said.

The ongoing six schemes under Central Sector Schemes are strengthening of Department of Ayush, statutory institutions, hospitals and dispensaries, strengthening of Pharmacopoeial Laboratories, IEC and Ayush & Public Health function under the head of “System Strengthening”. In the 12th Plan, a provision of Rs.1409 crore has been proposed against the 11th Plan outlay of Rs.282.75 crore.

A key component of the allocation is augmenting pharmacopoeia work to develop 1000 monographs and strengthening Pharmacopoeia Commission & associated laboratories to accelerate the work of standardization and quality parameters of ASU drugs as per global requirements and acceptability.

Another component is providing support to build up the initiative of safety monitoring of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs under the pharmacovigilance system, which was introduced in the country during the 11th Plan period, by designating one National Pharmacovigilance Resource Centre, 8 regional centres and 30 peripheral centres to develop the culture of reporting adverse drug reactions of ASU drugs (Rs.15 crore).

Panel wants body to regulate, monitor healthcare providers

 Panel wants body to regulate, monitor healthcare providers

Joe C Mathew / New Delhi November 29, 2011, 0:25 IST


An expert committee that the Planning Commission constituted to suggest new methods for universal health coverage has called for a National Health Regulatory and Development Authority (NHRDA) to regulate and monitor public and private healthcare providers.

NHRDA, with enforcement and complaint redressal powers, will oversee contracts, accredit health care providers, develop ethical standards for care delivery, enforce patient’s charter of rights and take other measures to provide universal healthcare, according to the panels’ study. The high-level expert group, headed by Public Health Foundation of India president K Srinath Reddy, submitted the report to the Planning Commission on Monday.

According to sources, the Planning Commission has sought the views of private healthcare providers, health activists and medical professionals on the report before finalising it. The approved inputs will get reflected in the final Plan document of the Commission, which is expected by March 2012.


NHRDA will be responsible for formulating legal and regulatory norms and standard treatment guidelines and management protocols for the proposed National Health Package (for every citizen) to control entry, quality, quantity and price of healthcare delivery.

The expert group wants the national authority to be linked to similar state-level institutions and to the ombudsperson at the district level, especially to handle grievance redressal.

According to the proposal, NHRDA will have three distinct functional arms – the system support unit, the national health and medical facilities accreditation unit and a health system evaluation unit.

The system support unit will be responsible for developing standard treatment guidelines, management protocols and quality assurance methods for the UHC system. It will also develop the legal, financial and regulatory norms as well as a management information system for the universal health care system.

The National Health and Medical Facilities Accreditation Unit will be responsible for the mandatory accreditation of all allopathic and AYUSH health care providers in both public and private sectors as well as for all health and medical facilities. This accreditation facility housed within the NHRDA will define standards for health care facilities and help them adopt and use management technologies.

A key function of this Unit will be to ensure meaningful use of allocated resources and special focus should be given to information technology resources.

The Health System Evaluation Unit is meant for independent evaluation of the performance of both public and private health services at all levels after establishing systems to get real time data for performance monitoring of inputs, outputs and outcomes, the report said.

Uttarakhand govt Ayush villages tally goes to Eight
Sunday, August 14, 2011
courtesy: uthrakand portal

Uttarakhand established its first Ayush village at Bhowali in Nainital district. Ayush means “something which blesses long life”, is the Uttarakhand government initiative to promote alternative therapies, like Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, in the state. The Government hopes that this initiative will create employment opportunities among people even in the remote regions of the state.

Uttarakhand government has decided to develop seven more Ayush villages in the state, said Uttarakhand health and family welfare department and Ayush minister Banshidhar Bhagat.

The seven more villages will be in the hilly districts of Chamoli, Tehri, Champawat, Almora, Pauri, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh. The specific villages in the said districts go as follows: Auli village in Chamoli district, Koti in Tehri, Abatmount in Champawat, Binsar in Almora, Kanwashram in Pauri, Garur in Bageshwar and Chandak village in Pithoragarh district.

In this regard, the Uttarakhand government has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emami Limited.

Drenched in Tricolour

Drenched in Tricolour

TNN | Aug 16, 2011, 07.18AM IST
 courtesy: times of india..

CHENNAI: The state's Kalpana Chawla award for courage and daring enterprise was presented to Trichy revenue divisional officer Dr S Sangeetha, who conducted search operations and made a major seizure of 5.11 crore in cash meant for distribution to voters in the runup to the state assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa presented the award to her on the occasion of Independence Day. "I am very happy to receive the award. Such awards will inspire many youngsters to discharge their duty well," Sangeetha told TOI. The award carries a medal, a certificate and 5 lakh in cash.

Happy that her work has been recognised, the revenue official said she was proud to receive the award from the chief minister. After getting a tip off in the wee hours of April 5 this year, Sangeetha, who was the returning officer for Tiruchi (west) assembly constituency, rushed to the spot with a constable and her jeep driver. The two climbed to the top of a bus and found the cash stuffed in different bags.

Hailing from Mettur in Salem, Sangeetha worked hard during the election campaigning after receiving the Election Commission directive to crack down on cash distribution to buy votes. Sangeetha received complaints on her mobile phone regarding alleged cash distribution besides other messages about violations of the model code of conduct. Daughter of a retired deputy director of veterinary medicine, Sangeetha completed postgraduation in Siddha in 2000 and practiced for seven years in Chennai before joining government service

Ayush dept hopes European Union will ease restrictions on Ayurveda drugs

Ayush dept hopes European Union will ease restrictions on Ayurveda drugs

Joseph Alexander, New Delhi
Thursday, May 12, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]


The Department of Ayush, with the help of the Commerce Ministry, is in talks with the European Union to ease the restrictions on Ayurveda drugs recently imposed by the EU authorities, according to the Department authorities.

The EU guidelines, following the Traditional Herbal Medicine Products Directive (THMPD) 2004, were too 'strict’ and would affect the export of India’s traditional drugs, Ayush secretary Anil Kumar told newsmen here last evening.

According to the ban came into force from May 1, a company needs to demonstrate its efficacy and safety through traditional use for at least 30 years of which 15 years should be within EU. The new guideline mandates registration of a herbal medicine.

"This is very strict. We along with the Department of Commerce have taken up the issue with them (the EU) and they said they will look into it. We feel the compulsory period of usage should be reduced," Anil Kumar said.

The THMPD had granted seven-year transitional period to all unlicensed herbal medicines to comply with the requirements and it ended on April 30 this year. This may have an impact on export of ayurvedic medicines though Kumar said the word 'ban' would not be proper in this respect.

He said a unit is also being set up to monitor adverse news reports about Indian medicinal systems which will prepare and send immediate and detailed responses to the media organisations concerned. Kumar also said manufacturers will have to ensure good quality of products.

The secretary also disclosed that guidelines to run Ayurveda, Homoeo, Siddha and Unani colleges in the country. One of the guidelines is to have at least 32 teachers in a college. Those colleges which can admit 50 students should have minimum 10 teachers in the capacity of professors and readers. Besides, the inspections of these colleges have also been made stricter,

Standards for AYUSH medical colleges to be raised

Standards for AYUSH medical colleges to be raised

thaiindianews

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) The qualification standards for medical colleges and hospitals that come under the department of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoepathy (AYUSH) will be raised, a senior official said Tuesday.

“We look for transparency in the practices followed by institutions to come under the system of AYUSH. By raising the qualification standards, we expect an upgradation in facilities such as distribution of medicines, condition of hospitals practicing this medium of medicine, and greater transparency,” said Anil Kumar, secretary, AYUSH department in the health and family welfare ministry.

The raising of norms comes in the form of changes in minimum criteria for higher level faculty, number of patients attended by the in-patient department (IPD) and out-patient department (OPD), the functional system of the hospital, and supply of medicines to the hospital among others.

The decision comes after the ministry observed unfair practices of showing higher that actual number of patients in hospitals, lack of skilled faculty, and inadequate practices.

“We want to ensure quality in this branch of medicine by checking unfair practices. We have also collaborated with the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) for availing high quality data to the public, better research on ayurveda, and naturopathy on AYUSH research portal,” Anil Kumar said.

EU BAN ON AYUSH DRUGS

EU BAN ON AYUSH DRUGS
P A Francis
Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]
pharma biz

India's ayurvedic and herbal exports to Europe are going to get seriously affected with the enforcement of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) by the European Union from May 1. It was known to everyone in the industry since last year that the directive was to take effect from this year and some had already initiated steps to tackle the new scenario. The directive does not seem to be entirely a non tariff barrier as there has been certain serious quality issues relating to Indian herbal exports in the past. THMPD is stated to have framed to provide a regulatory approval process for herbal medicines entering the EU countries. Since October 2005, herbal medicines in most EU countries are being controlled under the EU regulation, 2004/24/EC. This new rule stipulates that a company intending to export its herbal medicines to EU needs to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the same through traditional use. It demands that for a product to apply for traditional use registration, it should provide sufficient data to prove that it has been in use for a minimum period of 30 years and 15 years in use within the EU. A transition period of seven years is, however, given to companies to take necessary corrective measures to comply with the new EU norms as many of their products may not pass the new registration procedures.

One can say that by implementing THMPD, the EU is denying its citizens,especially Indians living there, access to an ancient system of healing. These medicines had helped millions in EU over past few decades for treating chronic disorders where modern medicine failed to produce results. A Research conducted for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in 2009 showed that 26 per cent of adults in the UK have been taking herbal medicine in the last two years from health food shops and pharmacies. The EU ban can be, thus, termed as a direct attack on patients’ right to seek alternative medicine. Be that as it may, absence of a standardized manufacturing system and scientific documentation are two fundamental drawbacks of this sector from the very beginning. The recent move by the Department of Ayush to conduct elaborate studies, mainly toxicity and metal content analysis, of about 5000 herbal raw materials commonly used by the country's Ayurveda units is thus a right initiative. Currently, these raw materials with no uniformity in quality are procured from divergent sources resulting in sharp variations in product efficacy. There are about 8000 small and tiny units spread across the country producing herbal drugs in the traditional ways. The most critical factor for the universal acceptability of herbal and plant medicines is to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy by way of clinical trials. Only that can build credibility of these drugs as it will scientifically prove their therapeutic benefits. It is in view of this, the Department of Ayush has come out with a set of draft guidelines for good clinical practices for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani drugs and other traditional medicines. If the ayurvedic industry is serious about achieving a sustainable growth, the units have to adopt all these scientific norms in their manufacturing practises instead of crying over the EU ban.

AMMOI urges health ministry to bring national ban

AMMOI urges health ministry to bring national ban on practice of fake, unqualified healers

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Saturday, May 07, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]


In a memorandum to the Union health ministry, the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) has urged the government to take immediate steps to ban the practice of fake and unqualified traditional healers in the country, through amendment of existing act and rules if necessary.
The secretary of AMMOI, Dr D Ramanathan handed over the memorandum to the union minister of state for health, S Gandhiselvan during his visit to Kerala recently.

The organisation was forced to bring the issue to the notice of the minister as the Kerala government, prior to the assembly election, gave exemption to the traditional healers of northern Kerala from acquiring qualification and registration as per some provisions of Travancore-Cochin Medical Council Act. The decision of the government was later stayed by the Kerala High Court.

Dr Ramanathan said there should be a policy decision by the Central government after amending relevant acts pertaining to the practice by doctors of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy systems. He said that the regulations of Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) strictly prevent the practising of unqualified doctors and fake healers. But some state governments are still issuing orders allowing fake traditional healers to practise and Kerala case is the best example of such unwise action. The CCIM and other ayurvedic doctors associations in Kerala have challenged the decision of the government in the court.

AMMOI also demanded implementation and spread of Ayurveda and other Indian Systems of Medicine in the north-eastern parts of the country where everyone is following the modern system. It is necessary to constitute a committee consisting eminent personalities from the ISM sector to prepare a detailed scheme to introduce Ayurveda system in those states and it should be included in the curriculum of schools and colleges there for the 12th five year plan. AMMOI suggested that the members of the committee should be from CCRA, CCRUM, CCRS, ICMR, CCIM and ayurvedic industry.

The ayurvedic manufacturers’ appeals to the ministry included a request for a new scheme for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Because of deforestation and population growth, ayurvedic manufacturing industry is facing shortage of raw materials. The organization has also invited the minister’s attention to the European Union’s ban on Indian system of medicinal products following detection of heavy metal substance in some products.

He further sought the help of the health ministry to remove the barriers in introducing the health insurance scheme for Ayurveda treatment. Likewise the health ministry should find out a solution for withdrawing the central excise duty imposed on classical medicines by the finance ministry. Even though the financial department took some steps in favour of the ayurvedic industry’s demands, it is still pending, says the memorandum.

The Union minister was also requested to intervene in the matter of salary discrimination adopted by the Kerala government. “India’s national policy is to give equal status to all system of medicines. But in Kerala this is not so and the treatment of Ayurveda is looked down. In spite of repeated letters and directions from central government, there is no change in the state policy. The best example is the differences in the pay scale of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy doctors”, said Dr Ramanathan, a CCIM executive committee member.

The memorandum also demands for additional financial aid for the upcoming Kerala Ayurvedic Cluster to be inaugurated in Thrissur for its development and setting up of research units. AMMOI requested the minister to nominate Dr ET Neelakanta Mooss of Ashtavaidya families as member to the National Medicinal Plant Board.

Health Ministry ropes in IIM-A to promote AYUSH

Health Ministry ropes in IIM-A to promote AYUSH

Express News Service
Tags : Indian Institute of Management, Anil K Gupta, Dr C H Raveendar
Posted: Sat May 07 2011, 02:06 hrs
Ahmedabad:
                                 
                                       The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is drawing up recommendations for the Union Health Ministry on how can AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) medicines be promoted better in the country. IIM-A has been entrusted with the task by the Department of AYUSH.                                           IIM-A professor Anil K Gupta said that currently AYUSH makes up barely 0.4 per cent of the total healthcare system in India, so the aim is to integrate AYUSH systems among themselves and also with allopathic medicine.

                                        “AYUSH has not been able to reach people in rural and urban areas. It is an affordable medical system for the rural and urban poor. Even for the affluent it is a preventive system that is greatly useful because it targets lifestyle, food, mental health and overall well-being,” he said.                                                                The recommendations will be finalised after a three-tier set of programmes concludes. At present, the third set of dignitaries, including doctors, researchers and field workers, is attending a five-day programme at the institute.
                                     The first and second set made up of officials, policy-makers and institution heads have been concluded. Dr C H Raveendar, assistant director-in-charge of the Regional Research Institute (Homoeo) at Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, said the participants and IIM-A faculty are sharing experiences to find a way to boost the AYUSH systems.
                                     
                                       Several research findings have been presented in the course of the programmes and IIM-A faculty have also looked at the management aspects.

Siddha, Varma medical camp held

Siddha, Varma medical camp held



Sunday, Apr 24, 2011
 courtes:the hindu


VELLORE: As many as 284 persons were treated at a free Siddha and Varma medical camp, organised by Sooryodaya Aided Elementary School, Vellore District Siddha Medical Office and Welfare Trust, in connection with Siddhar Day at Sooryodaya Aided Elementary School in Gudiyatham recently.

G. Rajasekaran, former Additional Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated the camp. S. Thillaivanan, Siddha and Varma medical expert, and Yamuna, Siddha Medical Officer, Government Siddha Hospital, treated the patients. Philip Bhaktha Prasanna, Correspondent of Sooryodaya Aided Elementary School, presided. P. Jennifer Philip, headmistress, welcomed the gathering.

India videographs 200 yoga postures to prevent patent piracy

India videographs 200 yoga postures to prevent patent piracy
   Wednesday, April 20, 2011 20:43
New Delhi: India has made available a database describing 1,300 yoga postures and videography of 200 popular among these as part of efforts to prevent patent pirates from exploiting it for commercial purposes. Scientists at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have scoured through 16 ancient texts, including Patanjali Yoga Sutra and decribed 1300 yoga postures, a senior official said.

These will be made available to international patent offices through the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), TKDL Director V.K. Gupta said here. He said as part of phase II, 20 more ancients texts would be referred and more yoga postures would be described and put up on the digital library.

"We are making available the 30-40 most popular yoga asanas in the open domain. The rest would be available only to patent offices," Gupta said.

In the United States alone, the patent authorities have issued more than 130 yoga-related patents, 150 copyrights and 2,300 trademarks related to the ancient practice. On Wednesday, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) entered into an agreement with TKDL that would grant it access to the rich resource on traditional knowledge. The 'Access Agreement' was signed by Gupta and Tomoki Sawai, Director, International Affairs Division of the JPO. India had earlier signed similar agreements with United States Patent & Trademark Office, European Patent Office, German Patent Office, Patent Office of Australia, Canada Patent Office (CIPO) and United Kingdom Trademark & Patent Office (UKPTO), during the last two years.

The agreement signed with EPO in particular has resulted into remarkable success in preventing bio-piracy of Indian traditional knowledge at EPO. The TKDL database includes 54 authoritative textbooks on Ayurvedic medicine, nearly 1,50,000 Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha medicines.It is being used as a ready reckoner by patent examiners to compare patent applications with existing traditional knowledge.courtyest

 

India and Japan Sign TKDL Access Agreement

India and Japan Sign TKDL Access Agreement

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India signed the TKDL (Traditional Knowledge Digital Library) Access Agreement with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) here today. This TKDL Access Agreement would help prevent misappropriation of India’s traditional knowledge at JPO.  It also successfully concludes the arrangement of protection of India’s traditional knowledge with ‘trilateral offices’ like United States Patent & Trademark Office, European Patent Office and Japan Patent Office. This is considered significant as most of the international patent applications get filed at least in one of these trilateral offices. Rejection of a patent application at any one of these offices would facilitate its rejection at any other International Patent Office. TKDL Access Agreement has in-built safeguards on non-disclosure to protect India’s interest against any possible misuse. Under the agreement, the patent examiners at International Patent Offices can utilize TKDL for patent search and examination purpose only and cannot reveal the content to any third party unless it is necessary for citation purpose. Significant impact has already been realized at EPO, beginning July 2009, wherein TKDL team identified 224 patent applications at EPO which concern Indian systems of medicine and third party TKDL evidences filed at EPO. In two such cases, EPO has already set aside its earlier intention to grant patents after it received TKDL evidence.  In the other 33 cases, applicants themselves decided to withdraw their four-to-five year old applications on being confronted with TKDL evidence. It is expected that in the remaining cases also, either EPO would reject these applications or applicants themselves would withdraw their wrong claims/patent applications unless they are able to establish the novelty of their claims/applications.  A recent study carried out by TKDL expert team has revealed a sharp decline (44%) on filing of patent applications concerning Indian systems of medicine at EPO in particular on generic group concerning medicinal plant preparation. Normally, on an average, 80 such patent applications are being filed every year at EPO. About 25 get filed during October-December and 15-40 patents get granted yearly during this period.  In contrast, during October-December 2009 only 14 applications got filed and no wrong patent was granted Misappropriation and bio-piracy are the issues of great concern for 130 developing countries and this agenda is being pursued at multilateral forums such as Convention on Biological Diversity, TRIPs Council at World Trade Organization and at World Intellectual Property Organization.  However, so far there has been no consensus on ensuring protection of traditional knowledge.  It is for this reason, Mexico, only after more than 10 years of legal battle, was able to get the patent on Enola bean at USPTO cancelled in July 2009.  Similarly, cancellation on Monsonto Soybean patent happened in July 2007 at EPO but after 13 years of legal battle. India is the only country in the world which has set up an institutional mechanism (TKDL) and is able to prevent grant of wrong patents in only a few weeks through an e-mail and at zero cost, whereas other countries need to fight for 10-12 years and have to spend millions of US dollars to meet legal and other expenses even for opposing a single patent. TKDL, a collaborative project between CSIR and Department of AYUSH, is a maiden Indian effort to help prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge belonging to India at International Patent Offices. It  has scientifically converted and structured  the India’s traditional knowledge available in 148ancient books on Indian Systems of Medicine, into five international languages, namely, English, Japanese, French, German and Spanish (30 million A4 size pages), with the help of IT tools and a novel classification system, namely, Traditional Knowledge Resource Classification (TKRC). Today, India through TKDL is capable of protecting about 2 lakh (0.226 million) medical formulations similar to those of neem and turmeric. On an average, it takes five to seven years for opposing a granted patent at international level which may cost Rs 1-3 crore (0.2-0.6 million US$). One could only imagine the cost of protecting 2 lakh (0.2 million US$) medicinal formulations in the absence of TKDL! The TKDL technology has created a unique mechanism for a Sanskrit sloka to be read in German/ Japanese/English/French/Spanish, by an examiner at EPO or any other International Patent Offices on a computer screen.  These unique international TKDL Access Agreements would have long-term implications on the protection of traditional knowledge and global intellectual property systems in view of the fact that in the past, patents have been granted at EPO and USPTO on the use of over 200 medicinal plants due to the lack of access to the documented knowledge in public domain. Also, at any point in time, 40-50 patent applications based on Indian traditional knowledge are awaiting grant of patent. Earlier India has signed such Agreement earlier with several other International Patent Offices, like United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO), German Patent Office, Patent Office of Australia, Canada Patent Office (CIPO) and United Kingdom Trademark & Patent Office (UKPTO), during the last two years. The agreement signed with EPO in particular has resulted into remarkable success in preventing bio-piracy of Indian traditional knowledge at EPO. courtes: PTI

UIPS team from PU glitters at Pharmacopeia

UIPS team from PU glitters at Pharmacopeia

Posted: Mon Apr 18 2011, 01:15 hrs
Chandigarh:
COURTESY: THe Indian express.com
Making another mark in the pharmaceutical industry, the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) of Panjab University (PU), has made its presence in the Indian Pharmacopeia — the sole authority for all prescriptions and over-the-drug-counter medicines and other health products sold in the country.
Under the project awarded by the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 25 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ayurvedic drugs prepared by a team of professors and students had been accepted and published in this “medical legal document”.



For more than five years, Dr Vashisht Karan and Dr Maninder Karan — who have specialisations in medicinal plants — along with a team of research scholars, have been working on the project that was awarded to the department in 2005. With an estimated initial project cost of Rs 30 lakh, the team started working on the SOPs for common ayurvedic products. “Once approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, these procedures went sent for publication in Pharmacopeia. Already, 16 single plant monograph (neem, amaltas, cucumber seeds and others) have been published in Pharmacopeia. These are a sort of quality standards or holograms for ayurvedic products that are followed in the country,” said Karan.

Apart from the single plant monograph, the team has also contributed to SOPs of polyherbal formulations. In this category, while nine have already been published in Pharmacopeia, five are in the final acceptance stage. Another 11 are in the pipeline.

“This is an ongoing project, as work is being awarded in stages. As the department has the expertise, it is expecting to receive SOP formulations of more plants very soon. It is an effort of the university to involve as many research scholars as possible so that they get field experience,” said Karan.

Sidha units in dilemma with few testing labs and high charges for validating their products

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Monday, April 11, 2011, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

 

Manufacturers of Siddha medicines in Tamil Nadu are facing major hardships in conducting proper validation tests for their products as there is very few government laboratories for doing the tests  and validation of ISM drugs. The high rates charged by the private labs are not affordable for most of the SSI units for conducting all the necessary tests.

Apart from this, lack of trained personnel is a hurdle faced by the existing government lab and the private labs, according to Dr P Jayaprakash Narayanan, chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee, Siddha.

He said that  as per pharmacopoeia, different tests are to be conducted for different medicines like choornam, lehyam, sindhooram, bhasmam etc. Quality test for particle size, elemental composition, test for heavy metal contents are charged heavily by the private labs. Rs.3000 is charged for each sample and every batch requires testing which becomes expensive for the manufacturers. These high charges also push up the prices of the products.

“When Tamil Nadu has a universal acclaim for its traditional Siddha medicines, the state government is not adequately supporting it by not providing infrastructure facilities and technical assistance to up-bring and promote the Siddha healing system. Either the government should upgrade the existing lab at Anna Nagar into the status of a modern testing laboratory with more trained staff, or establish one or two labs in other parts of the state. The shortage of drug testing labs is the best example of the government apathy”, the Siddha expert said.

“I am not sure that all the Siddha drugs available in the market have undergone all the validation tests, or wholly or partly tested. There are more than 900 licensees and 200 active manufacturers in Tamil Nadu. About 63 units have GMP facilities. The government has to provide all the required technical facilities for these manufacturing units ”, he added.

Dr T Thirunarayanan, the secretary of Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research’ said Ayush department has sanctioned a traditional cluster project at a cost of Rs.16 crore for the state. But those who are responsible to bring it up are delaying it after accepting a major part of the allotment. He invited the government’s immediate attention in the matter for the sake of the Siddha manufacturers of the state. He said if the cluster is made operational, the poor manufacturers of the state can avail all the testing facilities to certify and validate their products. Among other things, he emphasized the need to upgrade the state controlled lab at Annanagar which is currently conducting tests for TAMPCOL only, the state unit of ISM products.

“Labs are necessary for testing drugs of Indian systems to ensure the production of quality drugs and also to validate them to encourage acceptance. The central laboratory, Captain Srinivasa Murthy Research Institute for Drug Standardization for Ayurveda and Siddha, located at the ISM directorate premises is doing tests for private manufacturers, but it has very limited facilities and results are often delayed”, he told Pharmabiz.

Tamil Nadu has two government Siddha medical colleges and five private colleges. PG courses are conducted only in government colleges which located at Palayamcottai  and in Chennai. Private medical colleges are conducting only degree courses. Either of these government or private colleges has a separate testing laboratory for drug testing, Dr Thiruanarayanan, the former lecturer at the Chennai Siddha College said.

  I CMR sets up project review panel to monitor ongoing projects, develops system for fast-track approvals

Joseph Alexander, New Delhi
Monday, April 11, 2011, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set up a project review committee to monitor all the ongoing projects funded by it and also developed an electronic tracking system for ensuring fast track approvals and for monitoring of extramural projects.

The Council was taking several steps to streamline the process of approvals and monitoring of all projects. The review committee would meet in every 3-4 months and assess the progress with regard to the process of approval. It would also make sure that approval as well as the projects would be done within the stipulated time, sources said.

A recent meeting of the review committee took stock of as many as 48 projects being funded by ICMR in the traditional medicine. “Successful micro-propagation has been taken up for Bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb), an endangered medicinal leguminous tree whose bark is used as a potent anti-diabetic medicine so that enough wood is available for medicinal purpose and the species does not become extinct. Monograph of medicinal plants having various therapeutic values at Ramgarh area of Rajasthan has been prepared,” according to the review done.

Three medicinal plants (Ammania baccifera, Annona squamosa and Lycopersicon esculentum) showed good antioxidant activity and anti-proliferation activity in cancer cell lines. Leaves and testa of Anacardium occidentale (cashew) have been studied for anti-diabetic activities of their phyto-constituents by various in vitro and in vivoparameters. Catechin, a polyphenol which can be used as a nutraceutical has been successfully obtained.  Fruit of plant Withania coagulus (Doda Paneer) had shown glucose lowering effect in animals, according to the review.

Under the Golden Triangle Partnership, integrated protocols for conducting clinical trials of seven diseases (Benign Prostate Hypertrophy, Osteoporosis, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, HIV/AIDS, Anxiety Neurosis, and Oligospermia) were finalised. The clinical trials on formulations made available by the Department of AYUSH will be undertaken on the basis of these protocols.

As part of the collaboration between ICMR and the National Innovation Foundation, five herbal practices have been selected for the validation.  Extramural research projects have been sanctioned on anti-hepatotoxic activity of Abelmoschus esculentus and Datura metel used by the herbal healers, anti diabetic activity of Convolvulus arvensis and Nicotiana tabacum used by herbal healers, and evolution of anti-typhoid activity of Shorea robusta L., an ethno-medicine of the Kaatabhai Tribes of Maharashtra, the review panel was told.

 

Uttarakhand to set up 13 Ayush Grams

25th post
Uttarakhand to set up 13 Ayush Grams

Dehra Dun, April 11, 2011 The Hindu.

Bhowali sanatorium in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, where Kamala Nehru was admitted during her last days, is all set to become the first Ayush Gram comprising a hospital, a wellness centre, a hotel and a herbal garden.

Under a new project initiated by the Uttarakhand Government, all the 13 districts of the State will have one Ayush Gram each.

The government has provided a total of 10 acres of the sanatorium's land for the purpose of developing Ayush Gram, a dream project of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

An Ayush Gram comprises five features — Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

MoU signed

Kolkata-based Emami group, which is enhancing its presence in the ayurvedic sector, has signed an MoU with the State Government for setting up the Ayush Gram at Bhowali in Kumaon region under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The MoU came after the company won the contract for Ayush Gram through open bidding route. Emami, which has formed a consortium with a Rishikesh-based ashram and a hotel company, would develop the 358-bed sanatorium, established in 1912.

The sanatorium is virtually lying closed as there is only one doctor.

The herbal garden, which would be set up at 1200 sq metre area, will also have a specialised research centre to focus on the local herbs and medicinal plants.

In the herbal garden, there will be a provision for training and skill development facilities for local people in order to create new employment and business opportunities.

According to government sources, a minimum investment of Rs. 50 crore is proposed in each ayush project with government already identifying land at Champawat and Pithoragarh districts. But in the rest of the 10 districts, the government has been unable to identify land for this purpose.

“We are trying our best to identify lands in the remaining districts,” said a government official.

During the past few months, the Chief Minister, who has been closely monitoring various developmental projects, has told the concerned officials to search for land on top priority basis. - PTI

Pondicherry gets independent Drug Control Dept from April 1, P Rajkumar appointed DC

The first Drugs Control Department of Pondicherry came into existence on April 1 with P Rajkumar as the Drugs Controller (HoD). An official Gazette notification in this regard was made a few days ago.

The cabinet decision in respect of the formation of a separate drugs control department was taken in the cabinet meeting held on December 29, 2010, and subsequently it was approved by the governor in the first week of January this year.

It was in April last year that the health ministry of the Pondicherry government took the decision to form a separate department for drugs regulation after bifurcating the Food & Drugs Control Administration. Following it, the health minister of the state, E Valsaraj made a statement in the assembly that an independent department could help revamp and streamline the functions of the drug control administration effectively. Soon steps for the establishment of a new administration were taken and an official from pharmacy section of the FDA was appointed as the controlling authority.

The drugs controller said since his office has now got independent charge, from now on he will report directly to the health secretary. So far the department was under the control of the Director of Health Services.

Till 1989, doctors from medical services were handling the drugs control administration. After the amendment of Drugs & Cosmetics Act in 1989, the post of a controlling authority was not notified in the union territory and the charge was being handled either by the commissioner or by the additional commissioners. To fill this vacuum, in July 2010, the government made the present drugs controller as the controlling authority without mentioning the term ‘drugs controller’, but provided the statutory powers for controlling the entire department. Prior to this appointment, Rajkumar was acting as the state licensing authority.

According to him, the government has sanctioned four more posts of drug inspectors and one post of assistant drug controller. All these appointments will be made soon after the election. Currently the posts of drug inspectors are four, out of which one post in the head office is lying vacant. Two ADC offices will be functioning in Pondicherry from June and one each from Karakkal and Mahe. Proposal for an independent analytical laboratory is also under the consideration of the government.

From 1964, the food and drug control administration was functioning under one Director with separate staff and facilities using same offices in the four regions of the union territory. Even though the bifurcation has been effected already, the office of the drug control department will be functioning in the same premises of the directorate of health services, Rajkumar told Pharmabiz.

CCIM notifies minimum standards for ASU colleges wanting to get conditional permission

CCIM notifies minimum standards for ASU colleges wanting to get conditional permission
 
Suja Nair Shirodkar, Mumbai, Wednesday, April 06, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

courtesy : Pharmabiz.com


The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a body under the Department of Ayush recently notified minimum standard norms for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) colleges wanting to get conditional permission for the academic session 2011-12.

Only those colleges that follow these norms while forwarding the cases to the Department for conditional permission under section 13C and 13A of the IMCC Act, 1970 for the academic session 2011-12 shall be given permission to commence.

Notifying requirements for the teaching and non teaching staff for Post Graduate (PG) ASU colleges it states that all Ayurveda and Siddha colleges are required to be recommended on the basis of provisions notified in the PG regulations for Ayurveda entitled ‘The Indian Medicine Central Council (Postgraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2005’, except for the two modifications which are separately being notified.

Giving information on the same it says, “The students teachers ratio of 1:3 shall be allowed instead of 1:2 in case of professor for PG students to be admitted per year. And minimum annual average bed occupancy in the IPD of the hospital shall be at least 50 per cent instead of 60 per cent.”

As per the notification, the minimum standard requirements needed for the teaching staff for the Under Graduate (UG) course is at least 90 per cent of the total requisite teaching staff as per the CCIM’s draft norms with no minimum requirement of teachers from modern faculty and 50 per cent higher faculty which includes professor and reader of the total required higher faculty staff as per the CCIM’s draft norms. It also stresses that at any given time there should be availability of at least one teacher in each Department.

Stating the parameters for the number of beds for teaching hospitals for UG ASU colleges notification states, “For hospitals of Ayurveda and Siddha colleges, student bed ratio must be 1:2 for a minimum 100 bedded hospital. Whereas for hospitals of Unani colleges the student bed ratio should be 1:1, though, minimum 50 bedded hospital is required in all.”

Whereas for PG course in Ayurveda and Siddha minimum 150 beds are required including 50 beds for 10 PG seats in clinical subjects with UG intake capacity of 50 students. However, number of beds in hospital for PG seats in clinical subjects will be maintained in 1:5 student bed ratio in addition to beds required for UG seats.

For the Unani PG courses minimum 75 beds are required including 25 beds for five PG seats in clinical subjects with UG intake capacity of 50 students. However, total number of beds in hospital for PG seats in clinical subjects will be maintained in 1:5 student-bed ratio in addition to beds required for UG seats.

The notification specifies that for the OPD attendance of teaching hospital for UG and PG course in ASU colleges it is necessary that the daily average OPD attendance of the OPDs will be required on an average 100 patients per day during 1st January 2010 to 31st December, 2010.

Whereas the bed occupancy in IPD of teaching hospital for UG ASU colleges should be minimum 40 per cent bed occupancy during 1st January 2010 to 31st December, 2010. Whereas for the PG there should be minimum 50 per cent bed occupancy during period from 1st January, 2010 to 31st December, 2010.

All the provisions both measurable and non measurable as contained in the Indian Medicine Central Council (Postgraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2005 shall be examined by CCIM before sending their recommendation. At the same time all Unani colleges are required to be recommended on the basis of provisions as is notified in the PG regulations for Unani entitled ‘The Indian Medicine Central Council (Postgraduate Unani Education) Regulations, 2007’.

Consultative committee lauds Health Ministry’s progress in AYUSH sector

Consultative committee lauds Health Ministry’s progress in AYUSH sector

courtesy: the indian news

Cutting across party lines, a Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today lauded the progress made by the Department of AYUSH in the last sixteen years.

The meeting which was chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad noted that the Department of AYUSH has been making significant strides in providing an enabling environment to develop these systems with its infrastructure of national institutes, research councils, pharmacopoeial laboratories, the Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited and also the National Medicinal Plants Board.

Azad highlighted the successful strategy of mainstreaming of AYUSH systems under the National Rural Health Mission. He also elaborated on the efforts made by the department towards ensuring quality control of drugs.

Azad, however pointed out the acute shortage of doctors in rural areas and sought the views of members in mitigating the situation by utilizing the AYUSH doctors to fill the felt need at grass root levels.

Secretary, Department of AYUSH, Anil Kumar, drew the attention of members to the new initiatives taken in the Eleventh Plan, particularly the scheme on acquisition cataloguing, digitization and publication of text book and manuscripts; projects on local health tradition; scheme on AYUSH clusters and public health initiatives.

Committee members shared the concern of the department over some key issues like low capacity reflected in vacancies; pending utilisation certificates from states; weak drug enforcement machinery; collaborative research and building quality - drugs, therapies, hospitals, laboratories, teaching colleges.

They requested Azad to ensure employment and utilization of trained manpower and suggested that AYUSH services should be more visible at the grass root level so that benefits of progress made by the department reach the people. (ANI)

Planning Commission wants corrective measures as Ayush units go slow on GMP

Planning Commission wants corrective measures as Ayush units go slow on GMP
Joseph Alexander, New Delhi

courtesy : pharmabiz.com

With the utilisation of funds for quality control of Ayush drugs falling much below the expectations and manufacturing units till going lacklustre about getting GMP compliant, the Planning Commission has now asked the Ayush Department to initiative corrective measures and push the units to ensure quality of drugs.


The move comes after the Planning Commission held an assessment of the fund utilisation so far in the current Five Year Plan and the number of GMP compliant units in the country. The gaps on both counts are significant as the Ayush industry in the country is under pressure to step up quality of drugs in view of the sterner norms being implemented in European Union and other parts of the world.


According to the assessment done by the Planning Commission, out of total 9837 registered units in the Ayush sector, only 4663 units are GMP complying units. Ratio of GMP compliant /non-GMP compliant units is very unsatisfactory with the maximum gap noticed in States like Assam, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, UP, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Punjab, the Plan Panel viewed. As many as 2336 legal notices have been issued/licenses cancelled so far on various grounds including the lack of GMP certification.


At the same time, it was also noted that the Ayush Department could not effectively utilise the funds allocated for improving quality control systems. Against an Eleventh Plan outlay of Rs.225 crore, funds amounting to only Rs.45 crore could be allocated during the first three years of the plan period and expenditure reported was only Rs.27 crore so far.


This has prompted the Planning Commission to ask the Department for corrective measures and liberalise the Drug Quality Control Scheme which put in place to provide financial assistance to establish State Drug Testing Laboratories. Over the years, 29 State Drug Testing Laboratories at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore per lab and 46 State Pharmacies have been set up and upgraded with Rs.2 crore per pharmacy.


The scheme also had components of strengthening of the State enforcement mechanism, upgrading the in-house testing facilities of manufacturing units and assisting manufacturing units desirous of obtaining higher GMP like EU and WHO-GMP. In spite of including these changes, the fund could not be utilised well, the Planning Commission has observed.
 

Ayush DTAB fails to hold statutory quarterly meeting for one year: TN member

Ayush DTAB fails to hold statutory quarterly meeting for one year: TN member
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, April 05, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]
courtesy : pharmabiz.com

Although the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani is expected to meet once in three months, not a single meeting was convened by the Board for the last one year according to one committee member from Tamil Nadu.

Demanding calling of an immediate meeting of the DTAB, the member has written to the Secretary of Ayush raising some critical problems faced by the industry to be discussed in the meeting. The committee is supposed to discuss various issues of the industry and those of the consumers to find out immediate solutions.

The member, Dr P Jayaprakash Narayan, whose expertise is used by various scientific and technical committees of Ayush department, said in his letter that the Board has to meet regularly, or else its very purpose will not be served. He also objected to the practice of issuing orders on crucial issues without consulting and discussing in the Board.

While speaking to Pharmabiz he said that government is issuing orders arbitrarily on issues like labelling, exports, drug safety, Ayush guidelines etc. These have to be discussed in the DTAB which is constituted for advising and amendment of rules. This committee is responsible for the implementation of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and it is the highest statutory body under Ayush.

Because of the delay in holding the meeting, he said, the second edition of the Formulary for Siddha medicines could not be brought out. The formulary has to be recognized and published on the advice of DTAB. The first volume of the formulary is not available anywhere now. Likewise, the compilation of the second edition of the Siddha Pharmacopoeia has been completed, but that also is now in the cold storage for want of approval of the committee. Dr Jayaprakash Narayan has also forwarded the copy of his letter to the Director General of Health Services, who is the chairman of the DTAB.

Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, who is also the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Siddha (CCRAS), said DTAB can do a lot for the development of Siddha system in Tamil Nadu, but the bureaucrats in Delhi are not interested to take up any step towards it. According to him the state department has got some misunderstanding about Ayush rules that forced it to restrain issuance of licences to proprietary medicines. In Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, if a researcher submits certificates of two doctors proving the efficacy and safety of a proprietary drug, the department will approve that drug. But the Tamil Nadu ISM department is conservative in that matter where in the involvement of DTAB can solve the problem, he said.

The expert member said he will raise the problem of shortage of drug testing laboratories for Siddha in the coming DTAB meeting.

Marrying the medicines of the world

Marrying the medicines of the world

Subir Roy / Bangalore April 1, 2011, 0:38 IST

A new institute, with help from the Tatas, will integrate ayurveda with modern medicine to take medical pluralism forward.Earlier this month, something unusual happened in India’s high-tech city of Bangalore. Tradition and modernity met in harmony and with a desire to look forward, not back. Ratan Tata, a Parsi, belonging to the most anglicised among Indian communities, and head of a multi-billion-dollar business empire that draws its life blood from knowledge born out of science, inaugurated a research centre that had ‘ayurveda’ as part of its tag line.

The Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (I-AIM), with a 100-bed hospital, funded by Tata Trust, will try to create a new space for medical pluralism by integrating modern allopathy with the traditional systems of medicine recognised in India — ayurveda, siddha, unani, homeopathy and Tibetan medicine (Swa-rig-pa).
It will cover the entire range of activities that a public research hospital does — treat patients, conduct research, train medicos and carry out an outreach programme that will seek to rope in large numbers of families in promoting preventive public health in a new cost-effective way, using traditional practices.

At the inauguration, Tata referred to the general perception that traditional medicine belonged to the world of witch doctors and acknowledged that most were unaware of the rich tradition of Indian ayurvedic medicine. He then went on to express the hope that the next 20 years would be able to pay a tribute to the scientists working at the center for their role in putting “India on the international map in an area that is rich in Indian tradition”.

The need that the centre is trying to address is the dilemma being felt by modern medical science. The patent pipeline — particularly for blockbuster drugs that help fund future research — is drying up. That means, new powerful cures are not being discovered. But simultaneously there seems to be no breakthrough for conditions like cancer, diabetes or even the common cold. So existing knowledge has, obviously, reached a plateau.

The boundaries of knowledge, all that is acceptable to the keepers of received wisdom, have to be necessarily redrawn — something that Darshan Shankar, the founding spirit behind the whole exercise, has been doing for nearly three decades. In the early eighties he discovered a till-then unknown tribal health tradition among the Thakurs in coastal Maharashtra. This led to the setting up of NGOs, medical colleges and research centres that were covered under the rubric of Lok Swasthya Parampara Sambvardhan Samiti.

Then a chance meeting between Darshan Shankar and Sam Pitroda, the telecom icon and knowledge leader, changed the future of the former’s work. Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) was born to take the work of the Samiti forward.

FRLHT has since 1993 done signal work in securing and safeguarding the knowledge and practices of India’s traditional systems of medicine. Known sources of information, like manuscripts, have been secured and the knowledge of medicinal plants stored and digitised.The country’s entire stock of such plants has been housed in 87 forest gene banks and a herbarium has collected 70 per cent of the medicinal plants used by Indian systems. Some of the most endangered plants are being preserved on LRLHT’s campus. Plus, systematic interaction has been initiated with groups of traditional healers, so that their practices do not die out.

Having so secured the store of knowledge inherited from the past, Darshan Shankar now wishes to use it and take it forward with the new centre. At the hospital, modern diagnostic tools, plus parallel ayurvedic systems, will measure medical conditions before, during and after treatment. But the treatment itself will be 100 per cent based on ayurveda and yoga.

Shankar says that “health seeking behavior shows no single medical system has all the answers. Complementary and alternative systems of medicine are being sought out and this is resulting in a move towards integrative healthcare and medical pluralism.”

“At I-AIM we want to create enormous new human resources to spread this new integrative science, this medical pluralism. We will try to put to use the conservation, recording and validation that we have done so far. We want to work with folk healers and households, have a focus on health education for millions as part of a preventive programme and do it by using modern dissemination tools.”

What additionality can ayurveda bring? Darshan Shankar explains that science does not draw a distinction between the brain and the mind. Thinking is seen as a neural phenomenon. In yoga and ayurveda, the mind is independent of the brain, the mind’s impact can be reflected in the brain. So this is not a physical or biological process but a metaphysical one. “In science, we use the senses to perceive, measure and record. It is not possible to read a thought through the senses. But the shastras use the mind to do so.”

He explains further that “science breaks up things” in order to study them, ayurveda studies the whole. “The relation between the whole and the part is at the root of the trans-disciplinary research that we will be undertaking.”

He is heartened by the fact that hardcore practitioners of modern medical science are already acknowledging the existence of traditional systems of knowledge. The Apollo group, for example, wants to introduce integrative healthcare in its hospitals. As the world moves towards “medical pluralism”, there is an enormous opportunity for India, which has well-developed traditional systems to draw upon.