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Alternative Medicine In India

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The Department of Indian systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) established in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in March 1995 was renamed as department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha And Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in November 2003.

The Indian system of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and drugless therapies like Yoga and Naturopathy have been widely practiced in India for centuries. Homoepathy, though originated in Germany, has been widely accepted and practiced in India.

In post-Independence India, the Government recognized the merit of each of the AYUSH systems and made attempts to develop them as viable systems of medicine.

For the first time, a separate National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy-2002 was formulated. The basic objectives of the policy inter-alia are to promote good health, expand the outreach and to ensure affordable AYUSH services to the people, as also to integrate AYUSH in health care delivery systems in the national programmes.

The Department of AYUSH has three subordinate offices, namely, Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian Medicine, Homeopathic Pharmacopoeial Laboratory and CGHS Ayurveda Hospital at Delhi as well as 14 Autonomous bodies and a public sector undertaking. A national medicinal plants boards was also set up under a government resolution on 24 November 2000.

Statutory Regulatory Councils

The central council of Indian medicine (CCIM) and the central council for Homoeopathy (CCH) were set up under the Acts of parliament. Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems are within the ambit of the central council of Indian Medicine, and Homoeopathy is under the central council for homoeopathy.

These councils prescribe course curricula, evolve and maintain standards of education and maintain central registers of practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy respectively. Their main responsibilities are to regulate education and practice of respective systems of medicine.

However, with amendment to central council’s acts the central government has taken over the powers to grant permission for opening of new colleges, starting of new or higher courses of AYUSH education and increase of admission capacity. The governments are actively considering the proposal of establishing independent council for regulating pharmacy education of AYUSH.

Research Councils

There are four apex research councils, namely, central council for research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), central council for research in Unani medicines (CCRUM), central council for research in homoeopathy (CCRH) and central council for research in Yoga and naturopathy (CCRYN).

These councils are engaged in conducting clinical research in health care, drug research, survey and cultivation of medicinal plants, pharmacognosy, phyto-chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, drugs standardization, literary research for revival of the ancient classical literature and family welfare research. CCRYN’s objective is also to conduct scientific research in the filed of yoga and naturopathy.

National Institutes

There are seven apex national level educational institutions one for each system as model institutes to promote excellence in Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopahty education. These institutes are National Institutes of Ayurveda, Jaipur; National Institute of Siddha, Chennai; National Institute of Unani Medicines, Bangalore; Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi; National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune and National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata.

The Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth at New Delhi has been functioning to promote informal system of education (Gur Shishya parampara) and to preserve the knowledge and clinical practices possessed by eminent scholars and vaidyas and to arrange transfer of the same to young Ayurvedic graduates.

The institute of post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar is one of the constituents of Gujarat Ayurved University. It is one of the oldest PG centres of Ayurveda and fully financed by the government through grants for maintenance and development.

All Indian Institute of Ayurveda, is being set up in Sarita Vihar, New Delhi. It will impart PG education and conduct research in Ayurveda and have a 250 bedded referral hospital.

Pharmacopoeial Laboratories

The Government has established Pharmacopoeial Laboratory of Indian medicine (PLIM) and Homoeopathy Pharmacopoeial Laboratory (HPL) which are the apex Laboratories for laying down pharmacopoeial standards and quality testing of drugs used in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha and Homoeopathy systems of medicine respectively, and also act as appellate Laboratories.

Drugs Regulation

The AYUSH drugs are covered under drugs and cosmetics act, 1940. There is a separate drugs technical advisory board for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs (ASUDTAB) and sub-committee on DTAB for Homoeopathic drugs. The State Drugs Licensing authorities issue licences to manufacturers.

Drug Testing Laboratories are being strengthened and accredited for testing of quality and genuineness of AYUSH drugs and raw materials. Good manufacturing Practices (GMP) have become mandatory from 23 June 2000 with the proviso that in the case of units registered before 23 June 2000, the GMP rules will come into force from 23 June 2002.

Ayurveda and Unani Drugs Manufacturing Unit

Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) is a central public sector undertaking established in 1978, with the prime objective of manufacturing authentic Ayurvedic and Unani medicines according to classical texts for catering to the needs of central government health scheme (CGHS) Units of central research councils of Ayurveda and Unani, autonomous bodies, state governments and related institutions. The company manufactures over 30 Ayurvedic and Unani Drugs. In the year 2004-05, IMPCL has attained a record sale of Rs. Six crore.

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Tags: Ayurveda, Drugs Regulation, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Pharmacopoeial Laboratories, Research Councils, Unani Medicine, Yoga