Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) has demanded the Commissionarate of Indian System of Medicine in Tamil Nadu to launch a Drug Information Centre (DIC) for ISM in the state. In the communication to the Commissioner, the Association has highlighted the need and scope for such an information centre. If it is sanctioned, it will be the first DIC for ISM in the country.
According to Dr Vijay Mehtha, the secretary of TASUDMA, they have informed the commissionarate that a website containing all the information of ISM pharmacopoeia should be launched along with the opening of the drug information centre. From the website, everyone who wants to follow ISM method can access information about this alternative system, and manufacturers, traders and people across the world can exchange information one another.
The manufacturers association envisages to make use of the expertise and infrastructure available under their cluster scheme for this information centre. For the formation of an Ayush Cluster in the state, TASUDMA has formed a Special Purpose Vehicle called TACT (Traditional Ayush Cluster of Tamilnadu Pvt Ltd) and submitted a project report to the Union health ministry. Dr Mehta said TACT will provide the knowledge to the members of the expert panel and other infrastructure facilities for the development of the information centre. If necessary, TASUDMA will take the initiative of appointing a qualified person in the centre.
"Patients and other consumers of ISM products can always refer their doubts and queries to the Centre where technically and medically qualified persons will answer them. All the facilities will be reviewed time -to -time and everyday information can be updated," Dr Mehta said.
But a leading Siddha doctor doing research in ISM has commented that if the drug information centre is to become a successful service provider, the data generated by the Pharmacovigilance Wing of the CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha) should be made available with the DIC.
He said that comprehensive information on each of the one lakh classical formulations of Siddha and Ayurveda is not readily available. The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) has the compilation of formulations but other data such as complete understanding of Dosage, LD 50, Adverse effects, contra-indications of every individual formulations have also to be available.
"The TKDL should provide whatever data available on formulation to the Drug Information Centre. There are a lot of errors relating to the dosage of single herb formulations itself in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. Unless these are rectified, data generated by the DIC will not be sufficient enough to help provide necessary information to the health professionals and patients," the expert told Pharmabiz.