The manufacturers, traders, research scholars and traditional doctors of the Indian Systems of Medicines in Tamil Nadu have demanded that manufacturing and regulatory systems of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani should be incorporated in the syllabi of the advanced Pharm D course starting from this academic year. Regarding the issue, Vijay A.Mehta, president of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drug Manufacturers Association (ASUDMA) has approached the Pharmacy Council of India and the Union Health Ministry.

"We are demanding that the Indian Systems of Medicine should necessarily be included in all the three courses such as B Pharm, M Pharm and Pharm D, even if there are separate courses on alternative systems prevailing. I have made representation to the Pharmacy Council of India and is waiting for a favourable response from their side" he said.

While responding to the issue, Dr B Suresh, president of the PCI said there is no need to include the alternative systems to the intensive course of Pharm D as the ISM have their own courses starting from Diploma to PhD. "They have Diploma course, B Pharm, M Pharm and lately one University in Gujarat has started even the Ph D also. This six year Pharm D course is a separate one and starting in line with the expectations of the developed countries," he said.

Dr Thirunarayanan, secretary of the Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR) said many drug companies in India have both the manufacturing sections, ie, modern medicines as well as ISM. Therefore the inclusion of alternative systems in the curriculum of Pharm D will help the future generation of pharmacists to have knowledge about unique process technology of Ayurveda like Trituration, Calcinations and Self-generation of alcohol - fermentation process.

He said many herbal products are increasingly getting exported to different countries where ISM practice does not exist. Therefore, the new generation of scientists and technicians require this knowledge for the product and process registrations. Besides, in the case of job opportunities, the Pharm D holders will get employment opportunities in the ISM manufacturing and herbal extraction units. Dr Thirunarayanan opined that the quality control of the Indian System of Medicines was comparatively complex and handling sophisticated instruments and developing test methods provided good scope for the Pharm D graduates. Further, the scientific temper of these trained persons will also enable the quality improvement of these traditional medicine-processing methods.

Dr A Ramalingam, president of "The Indian Medical Practitioners Co-operative Pharmacy and Stores Ltd" (IMPCOPS) said the Society is going to take up the case with the PCI and the Union Health Ministry. He added that the centuries old systems of treatment should be taught to all kinds of graduates of pharmacy irrespective of modern or ancient methods.

When contacted, Dr V Ravichandran, principal of Vel's College of Pharmacy, Chennai, who is also the vice-president of Tamil Nadu State Pharmacy Council, said there are demands and claims from the advocates of Indian Systems from every corner for incorporating it into the syllabi as subjects for the Doctoral Programme, but a final decision in this regard could be taken only after long discussions and contemplations by experts. He said the innovative programme has already started in his college, but later on, as per the decision of the PCI, there may be chances to incorporate other subjects into syllabus.

The Pharmacy Council of India has given approval to a total of 26 Colleges and Universities in the Country to start the internationally accepted programme of Pharm D in this academic year, including eight in Tamil Nadu. They are Vel's College of Pharmacy, Chennai, J S S College of Pharmacy, Ootty, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, P S G College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Poroor, SRM College of Pharmacy, Kattankulathur, Annamala University, Chidambaram and Vinayaka Mission College of Pharmacy, Salem.