In order to maintain the quality of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) medicines distributed through state government hospitals, dispensaries and CGHS stores to lakhs of needy patients, the department of Ayush has laid down strict quality control measures for the procurement of these medicines.

In a communiqué addressed to all state drug controllers, drug licensing authorities, CGHS director and other concerned senior officials, the Ayush department said that quality parameters should be strictly followed while procuring Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines for distribution of the same in the government-run medical institutions. It said that the purchasing organisations should obtain quality testing report from the suppliers before procuring the medicines.

It has come to the notice of the department of Ayush that the government purchase organisations are accepting Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines only on organoleptic basis even now. In view of the fact that there is a large ASU&H drug testing network in the country comprising of state drug testing laboratories, approved laboratories, NABL accredited laboratories, there is absolutely no reason why any state or central government purchase organisation should procure ASU&H medicines without insisting on batch-wise quality testing report from an approved laboratory or an NABL accredited laboratory, the Ayush department said in its communiqué.

All state government, central government ASU&H drug procurement agencies including the central government health scheme (CGHS) shall accept supply of ASU&H medicines only if it is accompanied with batch-wise quality analysis from an approved laboratory or NABL accredited laboratory in respect of each medicine. Analytical report must be based on pharmacopoeial standards and WHO/Indian Pharmacopoeia permissible limit for heavy metals, afla-toxins and microbial contamination. In case of patent and proprietary medicines, each manufacturing company shall be expected to enclose a testing protocol for that product along with the analytical report in respect of that product, the Ayush department directed the state drug authorities and purchasing organisations in the country.

The Ayush department's action in this regard comes in the wake of feedbacks it has been getting from various quarters that central and state government purchasing organisations which are obtaining Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines without insisting on batch-wise analytical report from the approved drug testing laboratory.