The Department of Ayush is planning to set up Homoeopathic Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd (HPCL) to manufacture homoeopathic medicines in the public sector, on the lines of the Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd (IMPCL) which is into the production of ayurvedic drugs.

The Department has already started initial discussions on the matter and prepared feasibility report for the public sector company that would require Rs.75 crore for land, equipment, recurring costs and manpower, sources said.

“Presently, the Homoeopathic industries participating in government supplies by and large are not GMP-compliant and are not equipped with qualified technical staff or quality control facilities. This amounts to violation of Drugs & Cosmetics Act and it is very difficult to ensure that quality of medicines is supplied to Government dispensaries and hospitals. Other important factor is that private industries mainly manufacture patent & proprietary medicines discouraging classical pharmacopoeial products,” according to the proposal made by the Department.

There is only one unit in the public sector now -- Kerala Co-operative Homoeopathic Manufacturing Unit having annual turnover of Rs.10 crore which is not sufficient to meet the requirement of Government Departments and supplies under NRHM.

“It is, therefore, felt necessary to set up an IMPCL like public sector enterprise for manufacturing of homoeopathic medicines to ensure quality and timely supplies to CGHS, State dispensaries and Homoeopathic facilities under NRHM,” sources said.

The IMPCL is into manufacturing of Ayurveda and Unani products and supplies medicines to Central Government hospitals, Central Government research units all over the country and to some State government related departments. Besides, its products are also in the open market and plans are afoot to boost the sales in the market. With a portfolio of 185 ayurvedic and 100 Unani drugs, the company has made a total sale of Rs.19.90 crore during the financial year of 2009-10, against Rs.13.96 crore of 2008-09.