Kerala govt to create digital database of Ayurveda medicine units in state

With no exact data available on the number of Ayurveda medicine manufacturers in the state, the Kerala Ayurveda department has decided to create a database of all licenses issued and names of working manufacturing units in a digital format. In the current scenario, there is no way to find out whether all the licenses are operating or what products are manufactured by each company and if any malpractice or misuse of license is being committed. Also, the growing number of cases of people possessing licenses and never renewing them has to be identified. The digital format will be released within three months. The data creation will not only help the department to deal with the issues related to license releases, but will also help regulate process of license renewal, new product endorsement and find out the number of classical and proprietary medicines being manufactured by each company. It will also help to keep a tap on companies which are engaged in the production and sale of drugs without licenses or renewals. The database will be useful for the inspecting officers to carry out their duties without any kind of hurdles.

Once the database of licenses is ready, it will help the department revoke licenses which have not been renewed without any reasonable explanations. Acknowledging the need to upgrade and strengthen the technical systems in the office, the state health secretary has directed the drugs controller to hold consultations with the manufacturers’ associations, and as a result a meeting of office-bearers of Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers Organization of India (AMMOI) and the department officials was held at the drugs control office. Following it, the general secretary of AMMOI, Dr D Ramanathan held a detailed exercise of collecting database of manufacturing companies across the state. Updating the details is going on.

The listed licenses in the state are 1200, but working units are only 687. Out of this, 646 units have GMP licenses. The number of loan licenses is 98. However, exact information about operation of the units, shifting of offices, change of addresses, non-renewals, details of products etc has to be collected after detailed inspections at the units.
With this, issue of licenses, renewals, product endorsements etc will become easier and transparent. AMMOI general secretary Dr Ramanathan submitted a memorandum to the health secretary demanding establishment of a separate drugs control directorate for Ayurveda.

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