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Expressing its dismay over the lack of implementation of a single independent drug controller for Ayush systems of medicine, the Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has recommended consolidating all Ayush drug-related standard setting processes under a single authoritative body.
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in the 168th report on action taken by the government on the recommendations the Panel has made in the 165th report on Demands for Grants 2025-26 of the Ministry of Ayush, also recommended the Ministry of Ayush to strengthen Pharmacovigilance systems and promote ADR reporting ensuring safe use of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs.
Taking account of Ministry's response to its recommendations in its earlier report, the Panel said, "The Committee is dismayed to observe that the Committee's recommendation for a single independent drug controller for Ayush hasn't been complied with yet".
"The Committee thus reiterates its recommendation for consolidating all Ayush drug-related standard-setting processes under a single authoritative body viz. an independent drug controller of Ayush, in alignment with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its associated rules," said the Panel headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, in the report presented in the Rajya Sabha recently.
To achieve this, the Ministry should establish a streamlined and inclusive mechanism that actively involves stakeholders in the development of pharmacopoeial standards uniformly, ensuring enhanced safety, quality and efficacy of Ayush medicines nationwide.
In line with this, and also for strengthening the foundation of research and uniform standardisation in Ayush Sector, the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and various research councils of Ayush, such as, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) work together with due coordination and collaboration.
Appreciating the role of a Pharmacopoeia Commission in developing and amending Pharmacopoeia and formularies for Ayush system and setting standards for Ayush drugs ensuring their quality, safety and efficacy and surveillance of misleading advertisement, the Panel reiterated the creation of a separate platform/body to exclusively implement, facilitate and monitor the Pharmacovigilance of Ayush Drugs.
Surveillance of Adverse Drug Reactions is crucial for ensuring the safety of drugs including those from traditional systems like ASU&H, and Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centres (IPvCs) and Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centres (PPvCs) contribute to these efforts, it observed.
"The Committee recommends the Ministry to strengthen Pharmacovigilance systems and promote ADR reporting for protecting the public health through NPC-ISM, IPvCs and PPvCs which plays a vital role in ensuring the safe use of ASU&H drugs," added the Panel.
It also recommended that adequate financial support may be earmarked for research components exclusively to evaluate herb drug interaction and further to assess the quality and safety aspects of Ayush drugs.
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