The Union Health Ministry has asked the chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the ministry to look into the issues arising out of the complaints and allegations of irregularities in procurement of drugs by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) without calling tenders as per the government norms.

The government has ordered the inquiry by the chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the ministry to rule out the possibility of any irregularity if any, sources said.

However, sources said that the CCRUM has been getting Research Drugs manufactured from its own pharmacy at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabad. No compound Medicine is procured from outside, except a few compound drugs which are procured on the basis of CGHS rates and from Indian Medicine pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd (IMPCL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Department of AYUSH.

35 Kit Medicines are, however, being got manufactured on the basis of comparative rates arrived after the issue of tender notices from the firms having Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates and registered and licensed with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) with whom the Council is having an MoU for getting patent rights of the drugs. Firms presently manufacturing the drugs include Maxo Laboratories, Delhi, Herbs and Herbs, Jaipur and Drug Laboratories, Meerut. These firms are accredited having registered with NRDC and GMP compliant.

Procurement of crude drugs is made through registered units of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) on the basis of their certified rates after due certification of quality by a Committee.

It has been reported by the CCRUM that no procurement is being made without following the process of tenders except, however, in case of IMPCL as well as the registered units of the KVIC which are PSUs under the Government of India. Instructions have been issued recently for finalizing rates for procurement of crude drugs also on the basis of lowest rates after due issue of tender notice in order to streamline the System.