With the Indian system of medicines including Ayurveda getting increased attention from world around, the Department of Ayush is pushing the idea of setting up a Central Drug Controller for Ayush drugs separately for ensuring quality of drugs in the sector.

The Department has already forwarded the proposal in this regard to the Planning Commission for consideration and inclusion in the final Plan for the 12th Five Year Plan period with an estimated allocation of Rs.166 crore, sources said.

“The Expenditure Finance Committee at its meeting held in April, 2010 under the chairmanship of Secretary (Expenditure) had agreed to create infrastructure of Central Drug Controller for Ayush drugs. Allocation of Rs.166.00 crore has been projected for this purpose in the 12th Plan. Under the Central Drug Controller for Ayush Drugs, 40 posts including 25 regular and 15 contractual/outsourced posts will be created and in addition salaries of scientific manpower in 30 state-run Drug Testing Laboratories will be borne during 12th Plan period. This provision will be made under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Drugs Quality Control under the head - Promotion of Ayush,’’ sources said.

Presently the demand for traditional Indian medicine -- Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other herbal products -- has increased tremendously in India and abroad. The world herbal market is estimated to be $62 billion out of which the share of China is $19 billion and that of India is only $1 billion. There are around 10000 ASU drugs manufacturing units in the country at present, according to the note by the Department.

“To facilitate the increased acceptability of ASU (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani) medicines within the country and abroad, the core issue is the quality and standardization of ASU products and effective enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetic Act. It is recommended by the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs Consultative Committee (ASUDCC) chaired by DCGI that a separate Central Drug Controller for ASU drugs may be created,’’ sources said.

Taking into consideration the importance of the sector, the planned Central Drug Authority of India (CDAI) had proposed the induction of an additional drug controller general for Indian systems of medicines. At present, the post for the Additional DCGI for Indian medicines has been lapsed. This post would be revived to assist the DCGI for quality control and regulations of Indian systems of medicines and homoeopathic products, according to the proposal.

The CDAI also proposed to have five assistant drug controllers to govern the ASU sector, and one each would be posted in five zonal offices of Chandigarh, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata to assist the Deputy Drug Controllers. However, with the lapse of the very proposal to set up CDAI, the plans to strengthen the regulatory mechanism for ASU drugs also lapsed.