Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, is also emerging as the largest hub for Ayurvedic drug manufacturing industry in the country.
Out of the 850 odd ayurvedic drug-manufacturing units in Kerala, about 150 units, including some of the major ayurvedic drug manufacturers in the state are located in and around the Thrissur district. Of these, some of the companies like the Oushadhi, Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, Sitaram, Kandamkulathi, SNA Oushadhasala, EPM etc. are among the leading ayurvedic drug manufacturers in the state.
Thrissur has many century old tradition in drug manufacturing and treatment. From the Ashtavaidya tradition, Thaikkattu Mooss Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, SNA Oushadhasala, Vaidyamadhaom Vaidyasala etc are located in Thrissur. Oushadhi, Kerala government's Ayurvedic drug manufacturing company is also located here. All these firms have been instrumental in spreading the fame of Kerala Ayurveda, especially in the treatment side as thousands of overseas patients visit the Ayurvedic treatment facilities in and around Thrissur, every year.
When the drug manufacturing industry in Kerala, in association with the state Government decided to set up a high profile global standard quality control and R&D facility for the Ayurvedic industry in Kerala, Thrissur was the first natural choice. The Confederation of Ayurvedic Renaissance (Keralam) Pvt. Ltd. (CARE - Keralam), the Rs 50 crore facility promoted by 250 odd companies in Kerala and with the state government support, is coming up at a 10 acre plot at the Koratty Kinfra park in Thrissur.
The project is visualized as a world-class cluster of various components related to the Ayurvedic drug manufacturing process, and a 'model Ayurvedic centre for the world.' It envisages to have advanced drug standardization, quality control and analytical equipment facilities, besides pilot drug manufacturing infrastructure according to global standards. Further, the firm will act as a raw material quality assurance agency and sourcing centre for the members. It will also have an herbal park of rare and endemic medicinal plants, besides a museum on Ayurveda to encapsulate the strengths and traditions of Kerala Ayurveda. Brand creation for Ayurvedic medicines in the global market will be another major goal of CARE Keralam.
"This project will be helpful in equipping the Kerala manufacturers to face the challenges of future. One among the major initiative of CARE would be to create convincing data on the efficacy of the basic classical formulations and highlight our strengths before the external world. Branding of Ayurveda is another major thrust area" says Dr Joy Varghese, advisor (Ayurveda), Kinfra.
Dr D Ramanathan, general secretary of the Thrissur based Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association of India (AMMOI) and managing director of Sitaram, tradition of Thrissur was an important factor in helping Thrissur to emerge as a leading drug manufacturing hub in the country. Out of the 80 odd drug manufacturing units that came up in Kerala in the last one or two years, many are in the Thrissur district, especially major firms like Ayurdhara.
The manufacturers are also changing in tune to the demands of the modern day. Now all the manufacturers in the region have GMP certified factories and modern manufacturing lines. Many companies now make traditional kashayams in tablets and capsules form. Everest Pharma is known for specializing in this area, with 60 odd products. Thaikat Moosse ETM Oushadhasala (India) Ltd, is claimed to be the first company from the traditional family of Ashtavaidyas of Kerala to get both GMP certification and ISO 9001: 2000 certification. Similarly, Sitaram Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd., one among the top five Ayurvedic manufacturers in Kerala, was the first Ayurvedic company in the world to be awarded GMP, way back in July, 2000, and it now has ISO 9001: 2000 certification.
Most of the manufacturers have treatment facilities, and have invested heavily to set up modern hospitals. Vaidyaratnam runs a medical college and chikitsalayam, with global standards. Sitaram and SNA Oushadhasala are in the process of setting up similar facilities. Sitaram is constructing a 100 bedded Rs.10 crore invested eight storied super specialty hospital in the Thrissur town, envisaged as the first of its kind Ayurveda super specialty hospital in the country. SNA Oushadhasala is also planning a 100-bedded modern Ayurvedic hospital at an investment of Rs 3 crore with modern cottages near the present SNA Nursing Home. Besides, SNA is also planning to set up a modernized exclusive Ayurvedic manuscript library.
Thanks to the growth of the Ayurvedic industry in and around Thrissur, many Ayurvedic equipment and machinery manufacturers and suppliers, and an extensive network of medicinal plant dealers and distributors, have set up their shops in and around Thrissur.