Even as the comments made by the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) have become a subject of hot discussion among the Ayurveda community across the country, the Kerala State Government Ayurveda Medical Officers Association (KGAMOA) has stated that a post graduate course exclusively in Ayurveda pharmaceutics would seamlessly solve the shortage of drug manufacturing skill among the new generation Ayurveda graduates.

KGAMOA has fully agreed with the opinion expressed by AMMOI that the skill for drug manufacturing is lacking among the new generation graduates of traditional systems.

Responding to a news item published in Pharmabiz last week, Dr Sharmad Khan, the general secretary of KGAMOA said it is a fact that the skill for manufacturing classical drugs in Ayurveda is decreasing among the newly passed out graduates of Ayurveda. According to him, to address this issue, the responsible authorities must start a post graduate course in Ayurveda pharmaceutics. The topics such as field awareness, product development, research and development, rules and regulations, marketing etc should be taught in the PG level course.

Similarly, topics related to medicine manufacturing should be restricted to a minimum required level in the syllabus of the Ayurveda graduation course, BAMS.

Pointing out that there is immense shortage of skilled personnel in the manufacturing industry, Dr Sharmad said every medicine manufacturing company should at least have one post graduate in pharmacology (MD degree in Dravya guna) and one post graduate in pharmaceutical science to lead the technical wings.

He said the proposal of AMMOI to form an expert panel to familiarize the classical ayurvedic medicines and its preparation methods to the new generation graduates is quite appreciable, since it can act as a link between the academia and the industry. Such expert panels should also be constituted in Ayurveda wellness centers in the tourism sector (Rasayana and Vaajeekarana branches), community medicine sector, research centres etc. to link the academia with these sectors.

However, regarding re-working of syllabus, the secretary of KGAMOA took a slightly different view from the standpoint of the AMMOI secretary. Dr D Ramanathan, secretary of the manufacturers association had said that the syllabus of BAMS programme contained more unwanted allopathy portions. Dr Sharmad is of opinion that complete denial of modern scientific advancements to the upcoming Ayurveda students will retard the growth of Ayurveda healthcare system and slow down its forthright drive for a global presence.

“So, the more practical approach here to suggest is the inclusion of modern scientific advancements like diagnostic procedures, information about national and state level allopathic health programs, sharing of data and encouraging comparative studies by both the allopathic and ayurvedic systems. These should be implemented in the Ayurveda academic and research levels”, commented the doctor.

Further, Dr Sharmad Khan hopes that adding necessary part of modern scientific knowledge into the curriculum of Ayurveda will improve the skill of new generation Ayurveda graduates and enable them to compete with allopathic physicians by confining into the limits of the traditional system. This will help for a flawless interpretation of Ayurveda among modern medical experts, and will increase the popularity and acceptance of the traditional system globally.