The Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani Drug Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) has refuted allegations made by the newly formed Indian Medicine Manufacturers’ Association (IMMA) that the 12-year old association is an inactive organization. “The organization is working in liaison with all the big and small units and is putting maximum efforts to find solutions for their burning issues”, TASUDMA president Dr Vijay A Mehta said.
In a special chat with Pharmabiz, Dr Mehta said that it would welcome criticisms only from its members and well-wishers. He retorted to the allegations leveled against his organization by the secretary of the new forum. R Govindarajan, secretary of IMMA, had alleged that TASUDMA was not capable of uniting the ISM manufacturers in Tamil Nadu and handling the problems of the industry. He had also said that Dr Mehta was passive in taking up the problems of the manufacturers to the authorities.
When asked about the charges leveled against him by the new organization, Dr Mehta said so far none of the members has written any problem to the association or requested any help from individual side or organizational side. But the association is always engaged in solving the common problems including licensing, GMP issues and product endorsements that are faced by all units. “Unless I get the details, I cannot go and solve it”, he said. He added that the emergence of one more organization for ISM manufacturers would help the industry and its stakeholders.
He said his organization is fully cooperating with each member unit and intimate all of them of the latest happenings in the industry and the policies and programs of the government. Every month circulars are being couriered to them to update their knowledge and advice is given for any help they need. While handing over a copy of the latest circular, dated 03/12/2010, to Pharmabiz, he asked if the organization was inactive, how the Manonmaniam Sundarnar University of Tirunelveli could sign an MoU with TASUDMA for standardization of medicinal plants. The University has allotted six acres of land for cultivation and identification of medicinal plants. “We are now negotiating with Madras University for the development of herbal drugs for animal diseases. How can these possible if the association is inactive”, he asked.
“We have conducted 12 meetings and twp seminars in the last two years. With the help of the association, 22 technical staffs from different companies were trained in quality control aspects at Anna Hospital two months ago. Our association has assisted small units in getting their papers cleared in the SLA office. In spite of all these, we are being charged for being inactive”, the TASUDMA president wondered.
Referring to another work done by his organisation for the industry, Dr Mehta said his organization was instrumental in forming the Ayush Cluster (TACT) in the state for which government of India has granted Rs 10 crores.