The directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and Homeopathy, government of Karnataka has chalked out plans to set up its first dedicated herbal laboratory to test only drugs for the 250 ISM units in the State. The main reason for a dedicated herbal lab is a notification from the directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, which called all the existing laboratories that test both allopathic and ayurveda drugs to apply for a dedicated herbal laboratory status.

Around five labs responded and sent in the details of the infrastructure and experience in the field. The main requirement is that they should be in the field of testing herbal products for the last 10 years, Dr. BS Nataraj director, directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and Homeopathy, government of Karnataka told pharmabiz.com

The directorate is also in the process of upgrading the Government Central Pharmacy which manufactured drugs for the ISM hospitals and dispensaries in the State. It has already received a round of funding to the tune of Rs. 57.2 lakh which is disbursed by the government of India and an additional amount of Rs. 65 lakh would be made available once the Karnataka directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine submitted the utilisation certificate that gives the exact details on how the funds were allocated, informed Dr. Nataraj.

Plans are also under way to bifurcate the drug testing laboratory from the Government Central Pharmacy so that the medium-sized, small scale units could utilise the centre to analyse and authenticate their products instead of investing in in-house research labs.

No time frame was specified for the inception of the dedicated herbal laboratory as the applications were still under scrutiny and the inspections of the labs had to be conducted, informed Dr. Nataraj.

Although the state is known for a high level of quality compliance, yet the lack of a dedicated lab could speed up the drugs test and ensure the quality of the drugs. The State's reputation in ayurveda drugs can be ascertained from Kerala which sells the highest number of products that are manufactured from Karnataka. There are hardly instances of substandard drugs though a majority of the units are in the small-scale sector, stated Dr. Nataraj.

Currently in Karnataka, allopathic labs like Shriram Test House, Sanford Labs, Vijayanagar Test House and MS Ramaiah Test house are testing the ayurvedic drugs.

The leading Ayurveda companies in the State are The Himalaya Drugs Company, Natural Remedies, Charak Pharmaceuticals, Om Pharmaceuticals, in Bangalore, Amrut Pharmaceuticals in Belgaum and Swadeshi Pharmaceuticals in Mangalore.