As the government of Kerala is taking steps to strengthen the homeopathic system under Ayush department, various associations of homeopathic practitioners in the state have urged the government to set up a separate department for drugs control for the system.

Similarly, the associations have demanded that separate laboratory is required to test and standardise the homoeo medicines. Currently, homoeo drugs are also tested at the state laboratory directed by Ayurveda drug control officials.

According to the homoeopaths, the techniques and the equipment required for testing homoeopathy medicines are different from those of traditional Indian medicines. Different techniques of testing methods cannot be applied in the same lab where Ayurveda or Siddha or Unani medicines are tested. Exclusively for homoeopathy, a separate lab and a drugs control administration are essential, said Dr. Salil Surendran, vice-president of the Kerala Government Homoeo Medical Officers Association (KGHMOA).

While speaking to Pharmabiz, he said the homoeopathy medicinal products cannot be standardised in the existing laboratory. Different ways are applied to standardise it. For proper analysis and standardisation, two laboratories are needed for homoeo and for Indian medicines.

According to Dr. Anooj Benson, president of the Ayush Kerala Homoeo Medical Officers Association (AKHMOA), an organisation of homoeopaths working in NRHM centres, government should set up a department of drug control administration for homoeopathy and drugs inspectors should be appointed separately. He said there are 403 homoeo clinics under NRHM and 666 government dispensaries working under the control of the government. Besides more than one thousand private clinics are also functioning.

Briefing Pharmabiz about the issues in the sector, he said his association will soon submit one memorandum to the government in this regard.