The  ayurveda  system of medicine is at least 5,000 years old  and was designed to promote good health and longevity, rather than merely fighting disease. Wheras the fundamental error of western medicine is to treat the disease rather than the patient. If drugs were prescribed sensitively according to the individual nature of each person, as herbs are in oriental healing systems, many of the side effects that result could be avoided.

However, today the ayurveda sector is in a dire state as the production is getting often disrupted due to non-availability of good quality raw materials for manufacturing ASU drugs. The acute shortage of plant raw materials is adversely affecting not only their business but also the quality of end products, as manufacturers are forced to buy sub standard raw material at double the prices pushing many manufacturers at the brink of closure of their business.

Manufacturers of ayurvedic products feel that the situation has arisen on account of the failure of the governments to take adequate steps to conserve and cultivate traditional varieties of medicinal plants in the country. Industry feels that the government failed to adopt appropriate strategies in the 10th and 11th Five Year Plan to avoid a crisis situation that has emerged now.

Dr Ramanathan Devaraj Iyer, general secretary, AMMOI pointed out that the condition is so bad that many small scale companies have either stopped or cut the production of several traditional drugs due to lack of availability of the raw materials. “The traditional ayuvedic industry mainly thrive on the plant and plant based raw materials and shortage in getting the same is threatening to kill our industry. We feel that there is a discord between the centre and the state governments on this issue which is acting as a major hurdle in addressing this problem. There is a fear in the industry that if not addressed this matter at the earliest, it will wipe out the entire industry.”

He further stressed that the government need to sit with the stakeholders and prepare a SWOT analysis as to what measures need to be taken to avoid such a disturbing situation. Industry insiders said that due to the shortage of raw materials they are also forced to import the same at double the prices from other countries. They strongly feel that the only feasible solution to avoid this crisis is to initiate steps supported by the government to grow medicinal plants in an organised manner for cultivation of raw materials as per the requirements.

Dr Iyer further stressed that considering the seriousness of this matter, it is the duty of the Centre to take cognizance of this matter by successfully co-ordinating and arranging meetings between the government offices like the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) and agricultural department.

Lack of stimulus
At the same time the much-awaited creation of the post of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the Ayush sector seems unlikely next year also after the Government cut down the allocation for the purpose even as the total budget allocation for the sector remained almost static.

The total allocation for the next financial year in the recent budget for the Department of Ayush is Rs.1272.15 crore, which is a tad better than the previous year’s allocation of Rs.1259 crore, as per the recent budget.

Though the Government, vigorously following the proposal for creation of the DCGI post, set apart Rs.7 crore last year, it has come down to merely Rs.3 crore. The total expected allocation for the current five year plan was Rs.102 crore, if the proposal had to be taken implemented. The proposal is still stuck with the Finance Ministry. It was sent to Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. 13 posts comprising of one Drug Controller General (Ayush), five Deputy/ Assistant Drug Controllers and seven Drug Inspectors have been agreed to. But now, it is unlikely to be taken up during the next financial year.

However, one of the positive things this time in the budget was a hike in the allocation for creation of common facilities for Ayush industry clusters. The allocation has been increased from Rs.20 crore in last year to Rs.24 crore this time. The revised estimate last year was just Rs.7 crore. The scheme is meant for setting up facility for raw material standardisation and quality control of finished product at locations having cluster of Ayush industries.

The total allocation for other schemes, however, went down from Rs.120 crore in the last budget to Rs.107.24 crore this time. Other schemes head provides provisions for additional component in Ayush hospital and dispensaries scheme for public-private partnership for setting up of speciality clinics/IPDs in existing hospitals.

Need for an action plan
In the meanwhile in an effort to conserve the traditional varieties of medicinal plants in the forest  areas and interior villages in Kerala and also to solve the crisis of raw material shortage faced by drug manufacturing companies in the state, the Chennai-based Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR) has prepared an action plan.

The plan report would be forwarded to the department of forest and to the Kerala State Medicinal Plant Board (KSMPB) for their perusal and consideration, said Dr T Thirunarayanan, secretary of the Centre.

CTMR is a non-governmental organisation engaged in the task of giving training to traditional healers, medicinal plant cultivators and researchers in herbal medicine and aromatic plants.

Talking about about the plan report, Dr Thirunarayanan said the main focus is to rescue and preserve the dying herbs varieties and other medicinal plants in the state which is popular for ayurveda system. According to him, the plan includes conservation of medicinal plants and mass cultivation, processing and value-addition and marketing.

“We will encourage capacity building among the local traditional healers. We are  ready to give training on conservation, utilization and development of medicinal  plants which are on the verge of extinction in all parts of Kerala. CTMR is fully  interested to cooperate with the Kerala state medicinal plant board and the  manufacturing units. Recent reports reveal that the manufacturing companies in  Kerala are struggling hard due to lack of raw materials. The only source for this  crisis is to grow as much plants as possible, especially the endangered species. For this, we are now coming out with an action plan. We will ensure uninterrupted supply  of medicinal plants to the state’s manufacturing units”, Dr Thirunarayanan said.

He said his organisation will enable the plant cultivators in Kerala to have a wide  network of farming and marketing with those farmers in Tamil Nadu. The availability  of raw drugs in the Ayurveda drug manufacturing companies in Kerala can be made steady and unceasing provided the KSMPB would give the Centre a contract for a term of three years.

Dr Thirunarayanan’s plan report for Kerala also focuses on supporting research institutions, programme management, capacity building and survey and studies regarding medicinal and aromatic plants.