Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), the Indian arm of the People's Health Movement present in over 90 countries, has demanded the government to bring in an effective regulatory mechanism to check the production and use of harmful irrational drug combinations relating to the Indian System of Medicine and allopathic formulations.

The NGO demanded that a comprehensive code of conduct regarding promotion of all medical preparations (both traditional and modern) should be formulated and widely publicised and those violating this should be prosecuted to check rampant unethical promotional practices. The concerned authorities should take action on both the specific case and the broader issues of quality regulation and promotion of medicines, with transparency and public information on the issues concerned, with immediate effect.

Citing the recent controversy surrounding the drugs of Divya Yog Pharmacy, the organisation demanded that an impartial enquiry be conducted into the prima facie violation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act by the manufacturer and action be taken against violations found as per the legal provisions and procedures, without any leniency or undue favour.

It is essential that manufacture and sale as well as promotion and marketing of ayurvedic and other traditional medicines (just like modern medicines), are carefully regulated, failing which dreams of promoting Indian Systems of Medicine both in India and abroad will remain unfulfilled. Respect for indigenous knowledge and traditions of health care will only be undermined if ayurvedic and other ISM formulations are made without proper standards and the public are misinformed about the contents or their efficacy, said the NGO.

It said the issue need not be seen in terms of 'ayurvedic vs allopathic' medicines and JSA is opposed to all substandard and irrational medicines, belonging to any system. The 'People's Health Charter' brought out by JSA had demanded the formation of a rational drug policy that would, on priority basis, would ban all irrational and hazardous drugs. Further, the charter had demanded to regulate advertisements, promotion and marketing of all medications based on ethical criteria. Over the years, the issues of hazardous contraceptives, misinformation and incomplete information given by pharmaceutical companies to clinicians and the public at large have been raised by member organisations of the JSA network, said the organisation.