The manufacturers of Ayush products in Tamil Nadu have appealed to the Union government to take steps to get work permits for qualified Indian ISM doctors to work in SAARC and ASEAN countries as service providers, so that export of Ayush products from India to these counties could be increased. Likewise, attempts should be made for making Indian qualifications acceptable to foreign countries.

These issues were raised by the ISM manufacturers of the state in a seminar organized in Chennai by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in collaboration with Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research, Chennai, supported by Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani Drug Manufacturers Association.

The seminar was part of a research study, which is commissioned by Department of Ayush, to suggest guidelines to the Ministry of Commerce to boost India’s export potential of Ayush products with SAARC and ASEAN countries.

According to sources from the ministry, IIFT will chalk out plans for enhancing export of products and services after bilateral discussions with these countries. The measures of IIFT will help address the Tariff and Non-Tariff barriers of SAARC and ASEAN countries to tide over the present export procedural crisis. Due to many reasons and impediments, the export of classical Ayush products from Tamil Nadu has ceased for now.

The chief guest in the seminar, professor Jaideep Mukherji, director of the Research wing of IIFT said products for OTC sale, food and cosmetic products of Ayush are the items now exported from the state to these countries. The classical Ayurvedic or Siddha medicines are not being exported from Tamil Nadu at present. He said the major impediment for the failure of export is the shortage of Indian doctors in foreign countries. Further to this, the high cess levied on Indian products by foreign countries has also led to the stoppage of exports. He said IIFT will submit recommendations to the Department of Ayush based on suggestions received from various manufacturing companies.

According to Mukherji, IIFT has appointed an agency from Kolkata, SRG Consultants, to collect data from Tamil Nadu and it has started the work. The data collection is based on a set of structured questions.

Dr T Thirunarayanan of CTMR has made a proposal to the Ministry of Commerce through IIFT that the government should grant them 100 % subsidy for their participation in international fares. He suggested that the Indian ISM doctors could work in foreign countries as service providers provided their qualifications are accepted. He said at present Tamil Nadu sends only some cough syrups and psoriasis for external application through export channel. The system also lacks a Harmonization System Code differentiating items such as Ayush food, drug and cosmetics.

Dr Vijay Mehta, president of TASUDMA, wanted the central agency that the regulatory mechanisms of different countries should be made known to the potential exporters of our country.

The manufacturers have wanted that the Ayush Department should grant financial assistance for upgrading infrastructure and Lab facilities. Government should get product registration based on Indian license and specification. Further they wanted facilities for display of Ayush products and literature in the Indian cultural centres of other countries. Display space in Departure Terminals of international airports is another demand.

Manufacturers from all over the state, experts in Quality Assurance from various companies, regulatory staffs, ISM industrial consultants and officials of CTMR have attended the seminar.

CTMR wanted the central agency to conduct a stake holders meeting in Chennai for more interaction on the subject.