The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) has urged the union health ministry to set up the proposed National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) office in Thrissur, Kerala.

In a representation to the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy (Ayush), the association stressed that Thrissur qualifies all the requisites that is needed for establishing the proposed NMPB office since it is considered as the ayurvedic hub of the country.

The Planning Commission has proposed to invest Rs.3 crore for setting up of a national level office for the NMPB in the 12th five year plan. At present the Board is located in the Department Ayush and was set up in November 2000 by the Government of India.

According to Dr Ramanathan Devaraj Iyer, president of AMMOI, “The industry is excited about the Government's decision to set up a separate office for NMPB, as it will help in boosting the industry by providing good quality raw materials for manufacturing ayurvedic drugs. However, we hope that the government will consider to set up this office in Trishur, since it is the ayurvedic hub of the country.”

According to industry sources, Kerala has over 850 ayurvedic drug-manufacturing units out of which around 150 units, including some of the major ayurvedic drug manufacturers in the state, are located in and around Thrissur. Dr Iyer pointed out that it is imperative that Thrissur should be considered for the centre not only because it is emerging as the largest hub but also, because Kerala is the first state to have an ayurvedic cluster in the country at KINFRA Small Industries park, Koratty.

“We understand the industry better and have a system in place that will ensure development of the industry in a more regulated way. In fact Kerala is one of the few states in the country to have largest number of units complied with good manufacturing practice (GMP) regulations,” informed Dr Iyer.

Some of the major companies based in Kerala are Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal;Vaidyaratnam Oushadasala, Ollur; Oushadhi, Thrissur; S D Pharmacy, Alleppey; Kandamkulathy Vaidyashala, Thrissur; Kerala Ayurveda Pharmacy, Aluva; KP Namboodiris; Sitaram Ayurvedic Pharmacy Ltd; SNA Oushadhasala, etc

Speaking about the benefits of having a dedicated centre for medicinal plants, Iyer informed that it is a huge pro-active step taken by the government since it will lead to upliftment of the sector.

“Availability of good quality raw-material is increasingly becoming a huge issue for the ayurvedic manufacturers today. Earlier we used to get these raw materials through collection, however due to de-forestation it has become an impossible task leading to scarcity of standard raw-materials. Government has taken a wise decision to establish this board as it will develop a trend of cultivating good quality raw materials that will help in producing high standard products,” he said, and added that it will also help the industry to establish better credibility for its products in the national as well as international market, and will open up more export opportunities.