Giving priority for research & development, and pledging focus on reforms in the operations, the ISMGA (Indian Siddha Medical Graduates’ Association) supported ‘vetrivriksham‘ panel has released their election manifesto for the upcoming Impcops (Indian Medical Practitioners’ Cooperative Pharmacy & Stores Ltd) election in Tamil Nadu.
Elections to the board of directors of the cooperative society Impcops will be held on July 2. Assuring transparency in all areas, the panel announces formation of advisory body comprising leading drug manufacturers, traders, medicinal plant cultivators, researchers in traditional medicines and accomplished experts offering innovative advice and dynamic perspectives. Attention will be given to the departments concentrating purchase of raw-drugs and sale of formulations and make them more transparent and revenue-oriented.
One of the significant promises given by the panel is that it will initiate innovative projects to popularize Siddha medicines in international markets. Labeling and packing of medicines will be modified using latest technologies. Measures will be taken to elevate the quality and standard of the traditional drugs manufactured in Impcops’ plants to universal standard levels so as to accept them by modern science as evidence based drugs.
Potential of latest manufacturing technologies will be utilized for increasing the quantity and quality of production and make the organisation competent to become a market leader in international level. Support of state and central governments will be sought for avoiding all hurdles for export of Siddha drugs from Impcops. For this purpose, if any amendment is needed in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, special committee of experts will be constituted to deal with the governments.
Expertise of leading marketers of traditional medicines from all the states will be utilized for increasing the sale of Impcops products, and medical representatives will be appointed in respective areas. Steps will be taken to deliver required items to the medical professionals on time. Similarly, special facilities will be constructed to manufacture cosmetic products, hair oil and shampoos.
Another major promises in the manifesto include upgradation of drug testing laboratories at the Impcops, establishment of more sales depots in all the state capitals and in all the districts in Tamil Nadu and in Kerala. Medical consultants will be appointed to look after each depot. Number of representations in the society will be increased and the discount rate will be hiked from 25 percent into 30. Steps will be taken to felicitate traditional healers in the AGM every year.
Seeking support from government, initiatives will be taken to establish academic institutions for Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Ayush pharmacy.
According to Dr. Vivek Andrews, the candidate fielded by ‘vetrivriksham’ panel in Kerala, “we will try for drastic changes in the overall development of the society which was established in 1944, and is working in the cooperative sector under the central government. But the company is now facing so many allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Though it has a good tradition of 77 years, the company has not developed as expected. More energy and efforts need to be exerted to create reforms in the operations of it. We have ideas and projects to popularize the medicines manufactured there in the national and foreign markets and make foundations for more researches with the help of modern technology”.