Though the Central Government constituted a Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee about three decades ago to set quality reference standards for Siddha drug manufacturing, lack of adequate standardization protocols are forcing Siddha drug manufacturers to follow the Ayurveda Pharmacopoeia.

According to industry sources, lack of quality standards is the main reason that hampers acceptance of Siddha drugs in the national and international markets. The Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee is yet to publish the first volume of Sidha Pharmacopoeia, despite its existence for more than three decades.

Though many of the formulations developed in the system are identical to Ayurveda formulations, most of the meluku preparations and some of the raw materials require its own standards, as they are unique to the Siddha systems of medicine. Some of the unique medicines like Rasagandhi Meluku used as ARV therapy for HIV infection, Amukkura tablets, Nellikkai Legyam, Vetpilai thailam for psoriasis etc. requires separate pharmacopoeial standards other than ayurveda standards. Some of the raw materials like Iruvi (Dryptix felixmases) are also unique to the Siddha system, note Siddha experts.

Recently, a higher official from the Department of Ayush had promised the Siddha drug manufacturers at a meeting in Chennai that the first volume of Siddha Pharmacopoeia would be published within a year. The government also appointed subcommittees with SPC for preparing reference standards for Siddha formulations and the works are progressing, he had informed.

However, when Pharmabiz contacted some of the members of the Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee, they refused to comment anything on the soon to be published reference standards.

"One of the main challenge faced by the Indian Systems of Medicines is the absence of documentation. Standards for herbo-mineral or mineral, classical or proprietary medicines should be laid down. Siddha drug manufacturers would be able to export drugs to various countries if we have well documented referance standards," noted an expert from the industry.

The Siddha Pharmacopoeial Committee (SPC) was reconstituted several times since its formation in 1975. The present committee was formed about two months ago. The only major achievement of the more than 30-year-old SPC was the publishing of a Siddha Formulary of India Part - I, with 248 commonly used formulations. According to the officials, the committee is also preparing a second part of the Siddha formulary.

The SPC was constituted by the government with objectives to prepare a draft copy of Siddha Pharmacopoeia, to lay down standards of single drugs for the preparation of Siddha drugs, to lay down test of identity, quality and purity and to look after such matters which are incidental and necessary for the preparation of Siddha drugs.