Lack of a separate department for Ayurveda drugs control administration in Kerala puts the law enforcement system into a quandary as the administrative wing is unable to take independent decisions with respect to  regulatory activities and every day functions. This happens in a state where scores of new and conventional ayurvedic drugs are manufactured, sold and exported every day.

Concerned over the issue, the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI), an association of ayurveda practitioners in Kerala,  and the Ayurveda Medical Manufacturers’ Organisation of India (AMMOI) are jointly preparing to approach the state government  demanding creation of a separate department for Ayurveda drugs control wing.

Ayurveda fraternity, in total, demands that the Department of Ayurveda Drugs Control should be brought under the soon-to-be-established Ayush department. As an introductory step to form the department of ayush in Kerala, the government has appointed a Secretary for Ayush to do the preliminary work.

Currently, the Ayurveda drugs control wing is functioning under the control of the allopathic drugs controller, though the licensing authority for Ayurveda is a separate deputy drugs controller from Ayurveda side. Since, no independent charge is given for the deputy drugs controller of Ayurveda, the drugs control administration is totally failing day by day, said Dr D Ramanathan, secretary of AMMOI.

Whereas, Dr Rejith Anand, secretary of AMAI said his association has held strikes and agitations several times demanding the establishment of independent department for Ayurveda drugs control and the health minister has assured the formation each time. He said government should also appoint sufficient staffs to strengthen the department. Presently, all over Kerala only seven drug inspectors are doing the enforcement work.

Sources from health department said, since the drugs controller of allopathy is controlling the department of ayurveda also, the Ayurveda drugs control wing is not getting due consideration from the government side and no developmental step is undertaken. Even the in-charge deputy drugs controller for Ayurveda is not invited to any of the meetings called by the health secretary or the minister. The allopathic drugs controller has no interest in bringing up the ayurveda wing under his control.

The government has appointed separate directors for Ayurveda medical education and Indian System of Medicines. These two departments are working separately and coming under the department of Ayush. But, the government is hesitant to establish a separate department for ayurveda drugs control administration.

In Kerala about 30 per cent of the population is still following the system of Ayurveda for all common diseases and the state is considered as the hub of Ayurveda. More than 800 Ayurveda manufacturing companies are operating in the state and above 1000 kinds of ayurvedic medicines are manufactured, sold and exported every day.  But the state lacks an independent department for controlling the circulation of ayurvedic medicines.