The Department of Ayush may amend the drug procurement policy for Ayurveda, Siddha & Unnani (ASU) drugs under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to bring the private sector also under the ambit of this policy which is now restricted to the public sector units only.

In this regard, the Department of Ayush is convening a meeting  with the representatives of Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers’ Association (ADMA) on June 29. The meeting is aimed at finding a common ground and future course on this issue.

Ever since the government decided to procure ASU drugs under NRHM only from PSUs like TAMPCOL, Oushadhi, Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd. (IMPCL), etc on the insistence of department of Ayush for ensuring quality of medicines, there has been persistent demand from the ASU industry to sources drugs from private sector too.

The industry is hopeful that with this meeting, they would be able to get into some understanding with the government.

According to Chandrakanth Bhanushali, general secretary, ADMA, “I think it is important for the government and the industry to have discussion on this issue and get into a consensus that will help in benefiting the industry at large. We need to find a middle way that will help us to get out of this complicated situation.”

Earlier, the Department had mentioned that the demand made by the industry to include private sectors under the NRHM scheme cannot be considered since under the present policy, procurement of medicines for the NRHM or other public health schemes can only be done from PSU undertakings.

“We want to know why is the government so apprehensive about the private companies selling medicines under the NRHM scheme. We are surprised by the attitude of the government that rather than encouraging the small scale industry it it crippling it by bringing in such restrictions.”

ADMA has suggested that the Department of Ayush should take some proactive step for the development of the industry by amending the policy guidelines so that equal opportunity can be provided for all in the industry.