The Union ministry of Ayush has issued the draft Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Central Council Bill, 2016 which will regulate the education and practice of pharmacy in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy.
The Bill will create a regulatory body called the Central Pharmacy Council of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy for maintenance of central register of pharmacists of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy and for matters connected therewith and to bring about uniformity and standardisation in education and practice of pharmacy of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy.
As of now, there is no regulatory provision under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules thereunder for issue of license for the sale of ayurvedic medicines.
The Central Pharmacy Council may, subject to the approval of the central government, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations, to be called the education regulations, providing for the minimum standards of education required for qualification as a pharmacist in Indian Medicine or Homoeopathy.
In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the education regulations may provide for the nature and period of study and practical training of students to be undertaken before admission to an examination; the equipment and facilities to be provided for students undergoing approved courses of study; the subjects of examination and the standards therein to be attained; and any other conditions of admission to examinations.
The ministry has placed the draft Bill in public domain for inviting comments/views of the stake-holders within 30 days.
The history of The Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Council Bill, dates back to 2005 when it was introduced in Parliament. The bill was aimed to regulate education and practice of pharmacists in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush), as there was no standardisation and uniform education system of curriculum available for training pharmacists in the sector. The Standing Committee attached to the health ministry examined and submitted the report in July 2006, but it has been pending ever since.