In a bid to highlight the importance of standardization of traditional Indian medicines for global acceptance, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has initiated an awareness programme in the country. The target group is traditional medicine manufacturers, researchers and public sector institutions.

A national workshop, with over 35 key participants was recently organised at Chennai in this connection. According to DST officials, Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals and International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology, both Chennai-based Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) certified institutions, were projected as models before the participants who wished to have first hand knowledge about standardization of traditional drugs.

Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, a deemed university dedicated to allopathic medicines took the lead in organising the event. The topics discussed included "WHO guidelines on good agricultural and collection practice (GACP) for herbal drugs. Present day challenges before Indian Systems of Medicines, techniques in standardisation of herbal drugs, GLP, etc.