The Tamil Nadu Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) will soon submit a set of proposals to the Union Ayush ministry for the speedy growth of the Indian traditional treatment systems in the state.

One of the major proposals the Ayush manufacturers in the state want to apprise the government is establishment of a medical college for Siddha and Ayurveda either in Chennai or in Madurai under the sole control of the ministry of Ayush. TASUDMA has assured the government that it will provide all the support needed for the project. According to the association, if the system has to develop, more colleges have to be set up and more graduates in Siddha should come out. At present there are two government Siddha medical colleges in the state, one in Chennai and another one in Thirunelveli.

As a subsidiary recommendation to the suggestion, the academic experts associating with TASUDMA want the ministry to take steps to get the academic books on Siddha translated into English and Hindi languages. According to them, language is always a bar and barrier for the system to grow. Currently, all the literatures are in Tamil language and only certain books have been translated into English for educational purpose in Santhigiri Siddha Medical College in Kerala.

In an interview with Pharmabiz, Vijay Mehtha, president of TASUDMA, said his association is ready to undertake any assignment given by the Ayush ministry for this purpose and also to get the assistance of experts like Prof. Dr. Jayaprakash, the veteran Siddha physician in Chennai.

In another recommendation for the development of Ayush system in Tamil Nadu, TASUDMA recommends for developing medicinal plant cultivation in rural areas with the support of agricultural university. He said raw materials for manufacture of Siddha and other Ayush medicines is a burning issue in the state and several of the association members are importing the raw drugs from outside. Special packages for medicinal plant cultivation are required by the state and the state medicinal plant board (TNMPB) should take the initiative for developing it. Training programmes for the cultivators and other herbal farmers is needed. If Ayush ministry assigns the association to take up the task of training the farmers, it will put up special programmes in the rural areas in association with TNMPB and agriculture university, he said.

Further, the association wants the Ayush ministry to remove the hurdles for issuing fresh licences for the medicine manufacturers of proprietary drugs in Tamil Nadu. For the last three years, the department of ISM in the state is not issuing any fresh licences. However, renewal of licences has been started recently.