Traditional Indian medicines have a world market, says Ramadoss

Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said here today that concrete steps should be taken to market traditional Indian medicines.

New Delhi, Dec 18 : Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said here today that concrete steps should be taken to market traditional Indian medicines.

Inaugurating the buildings of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL) and Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine (PLIM), Dr. Ramadoss said: "The phenomenal development of AYUSH systems during the last 30-40 years has now gained momentum."

Dr Ramadoss said that the Indian system of traditional medicine has the potential to expand vertically as well as horizontally and AYUSH products, particularly Pancyurveda and Yoga, are increasingly becoming popular nationally and internationally.

He said though much has been achieved in ensuring quality control and standardisation, a lot is yet to be done.

"Questions encountered on safety-efficacy of AYUSH are a matter of concern, which need to be addressed by elucidating authentic manufacturing procedures as described in the classical texts," he added.

He expressed the need to develop Indian products fulfilling EU/USFDA (European Union/ United States Food and Drug Administration) quality parameters for clinching a larger share of world market.

China leads in the export of traditional medicines with an export of over 10 billion dollars annually, and it is growing annually at the rate of 23-25 percent. As compared to China, India's exports of ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani) products is Rs. 700 crores (Rs 7 billion), which is around two per cent of the global market for natural products.

Dr. Ramadoss also inaugurated the two-day workshop on WHO-GMP Guidelines for ASU medicines and laid the foundation stone of PLIM Guest House at the PLIM Campus.

Dr. Ramadoss also released the Indian Pharmacopoeia 2007.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia 2007 produced in fulfillment of the requirements in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 lays down the standards of drugs produced or marketed in India and thus contributes in the control of the quality of the medicinal products.

The standards given in this pharmacopoeia are authoritative, legally enforceable and intended to help in the inspection and licensing of manufacturing and distribution of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Ramadoss said that IP 2007 drug standards have come into effect from April 1, 2007.

The Pharmacopoeia 2007 has been prepared in accordance with the principles and designed plan decided by the Scientific Body of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission.

It is hoped that this publication would be able to fulfil the mission of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to promote public health both in India and other countries using drugs manufactured in India.

It would also play a vital role in initiating new prospective for improving the quality of medicines and accelerate development of Pharma Sector in India.

ANI