Seeking participation in all spheres of policy making with regard to Ayush drugs, the Tamil Nadu Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) is planning to approach the Union Ayush ministry with a demand to include all the associations of different systems of traditional drugs from Tamil Nadu into various policy deciding bodies under the ministry.

According to Vijay Mehtha, president of TSUDMA, the industry should have involvement not only in drug making area, but also in academic and research sides of the systems. With the initiative of the government, an industry-academia relation should be developed in every state and in national level. Everywhere, the industry should have participation and a say in everything.

In the memorandum, the association is preparing to submit to the Union Ayush minister, TASUDMA is concerned over the poor growth of Siddha educational institutions in Tamil Nadu. Whereas, the acceptability of Siddha and Ayurveda drugs in the state is increasing every day. So, the manufacturers will discuss the matter, besides with the minister, with the Central Council of Indian Medicines (CCIM) and put one demand to set up more Siddha and Ayurveda medical colleges in Tamil Nadu.

Currently, there are only two Siddha medical colleges in the government level in the state, one is at Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district and other one is at Anna Nagar in Chennai. TASUDMA urges the ministry to start two more Siddha medical colleges, one at Madurai and one in Salem or Coimbatore. Similar steps should be taken to start Ayurveda colleges also.

Sources from academic side said in addition to the two government colleges, Tamil Nadu has five private colleges to teach Siddha system to the students. They are Akila Thiruvithamcore Siddha Vaidya Kalloory in Kanyakumari, Sri Sairam Siddha Medical College & Research Centre in Chennai, Velumailu Siddha Medical College in Kancheepuram, R V S Siddha Medical College in Coimbatore and Sivaraj Siddha Medical College in Salem.

Sharing information with Pharmabiz, the president of TASUDMA has pointed out that another significant thing the association members would like to share with the minister is about steps needed for boosting the academic system. “We have come to know that there are thousands of potent Siddha medicines narrated in the old Siddha classical books are unable to be manufactured for commercial sale or for practice purpose since these books are not listed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. This problem should also be taken for consideration and solved with utmost importance,” he said.

“I am of opinion that the major hurdle for the growth of Siddha education inside and outside of the state is non-availability of Siddha literature and scripts which are in Tamil language. Likewise, there is lack of industry-academia interaction which is a significant aspect in the education of traditional drugs. The central council should also recommend for translating all the available Siddha books into English and in other Indian languages. If Siddha literatures are translated into other languages, more states will come forward to start this course through their teaching institutions. We are planning to discuss this matter with the Ayush minister,” said Mehtha.

Further to the academic problems, the manufacturers want to find a solution for the burning issue they are facing today, scarcity of genuine raw-drugs. Several of the manufacturers are importing raw materials from other states. They expect a solution from the government side by involving the cultivators of herbs and other medicinal plants and the agricultural universities, he added.