The Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers' Association (ADMA) wants the Department of Ayush to take steps towards standardisation of various processes involved in manufacturing ayurvedic medicines including bhasma. ADMA in its suggestion to the government stated that it should set up a committee consisting of leading ayurvedic institutions, hospitals and research institutes along with leading industry members to address this matter.

ADMA has already sent its representation to the department and is hopeful that in its next meeting with the Department of Ayush it will take some pro-active steps to initiate this process.

According to Chandrakanth Bhanushali, general secretary, ADMA, “There is an immediate need to develop a standard protocol for the uniform manufacturing of Ayurvedic formulations. We want this committee to study this issue in detail and start standardisation of the processes at various locations. We are hopeful that Department of Ayush will help in the setting up of this committee by way of providing funds, and utilisation of the expertise of research councils.”

ADMA in its representation has pointed out that standardisation of various manufacturing processes is very important for the analysis and the texture of the finished products so as to find the correct doses, safety and side effects of the formulations and duration of the treatment and mode of action.

Bhanushali informed that today even if the manufacturers get API certified raw drugs, every company has their own process of manufacturing their product. He added, “Even though the authoritative books do inform about the process of manufacturing, it is not sufficient for practice as the narration is not detailed properly, which leads to individual interpretation resulting in variations in ASU products from batch to batch.”

He said that adopting such steps will help ASU drug industry to expand its reach as the manufacturers will be able to get big market for their commercially developed products in the domestic as well as international markets.