Pharmaceutical Democracy in India

Democracy in India

In 3 India Pharma Summit organised at Delhi  by FICCI ,WHO and dept of Pharmaceuticals ,Govt of India I was special invitee .29 November 2011 was the day.

It was pleasing that from one forum at the same time Mr Pakaj Patel ,  CMD ,Zydus Cadila from Industry and Mr Rajan Kohali from FICCI  was  critical to  Government on some policies.

Dr Nata Menabde ,WHO representative to India talked in different tone.She was emphasising every thing for poor down people of all countries specially to south east Asia ,Africa .She was in sarre ( Indian lady dress ) it was appreciated.

Minister Shri S K Jena, Ministry of Chemical & Fertilizers ,GoI under whom dept of Pharmaceuticals work. This dept was established in ministry in 2008, put all point of government brilliantly (believe it ) and discussed all points related to Price and production of medicines in India in relation of common man of country  .He argued to concern raised by industry and WHO without reading a paper in his hand. He did his home work excellently.

Ayurveda and Ayuvrvedic medicines got attention of every one when I raised question on basic  reasons of huge difference in global business of  Traditional Chinese medicines and Ayurvedic medicines.

China business is three times more now and it was projected that up to 2020 it will be five times in field of conventional medicines ( read Allopathy ) .But cost of medicines in China is seven times higher than India .

Yes my friends belongs to Ayurveda fraternity I learnt how to put your differences humbly without being red face. When Dr Anita Kotwani, Professor in Pharmacology at Chest Institute, Delhi  quoted result of her survey on price difference of same generic medicines it appears to be embarrassing for industry. But after her Mr  D G Saha,Member Secretary of Pharmaceutical committee of FICCI  argued precisely on every point of her from black marketing of medicines in 1978 to different areas of  till date. But question of difference in price ( some times  in multiplication of 20)   sustained there .

Both Joint Secretaries of Dept of Pharmaceticals ,Mr Devendra Chaudhary and Mr R Vondru was in command of subject and chaired one session each. Chairman of National  Pharmaceutical Price  Authority ,Mr Balachanran was in command in concluding session  and Ms Shanti, Add DGCI was there to help in affairs.

Except minister ( engaged in Parliament disputes )  every one was there from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm and recommendation was made with amicable consciousness among all parties.

We hope some thing better for Ayurvedic medicines too.

Recommendations to Planning Commission for AYUSH

Working Group recommends 12 times hike in allocation for Ayush during 12th Plan

Joseph Alexander, New Delhi Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

The Working Group on Ayush set up by the Planning Commission has recommended a 12-fold increase in the allocation for the Department under the next Five Year Plan. Against Rs.3988 crore of the 11th Plan, it has suggested Rs.47,535.55 crore, including transfer of Rs.10,000 crore from National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) flexipool for implementation. The ongoing schemes of 11th Plan comprise of eleven Central Sector Schemes with allocation of Rs.2053 crore and three Centrally Sponsored Schemes with allocation of Rs.1935 crore. The total allocation amounted to Rs.3988 crore. The 38th Report of the Public Accounts Committee (2006-07) has seriously pointed out that the share of Ayush in the total health plan at the central level has been only 2 per cent in spite of the policy pronouncement of raising Ayush share to 10 per cent with designated growth of 5 per cent in every Five-Year Plan. Inadequate allocation for Ayush has been considered by PAC the main reason for not achieving the set targets, the working group said. “Accordingly, the 12th Plan allocation for Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes is proposed to be enhanced almost by 7 times and 17 times respectively, including the transfer of Rs.10000 crore from NRHM Flexipool. This has led to total projected allocation of Rs.47535.55 crore (about 12 time-hike from 11th Plan allocation) to pave for effective implementation of projects in strategic thrust areas identified above and to step up the process of mainstreaming of Ayush,” the report said. Necessary updating and revision of the norms, without making any structural change or change in the funding pattern of the schemes, will be done to ensure that the objectives of the schemes are adequately met, project proposals in targeted thrust areas are properly funded and the outcomes happen to be of long term value for the Ayush sector, it said. The ongoing six schemes under Central Sector Schemes are strengthening of Department of Ayush, statutory institutions, hospitals and dispensaries, strengthening of Pharmacopoeial Laboratories, IEC and Ayush & Public Health function under the head of “System Strengthening”. In the 12th Plan, a provision of Rs.1409 crore has been proposed against the 11th Plan outlay of Rs.282.75 crore. A key component of the allocation is augmenting pharmacopoeia work to develop 1000 monographs and strengthening Pharmacopoeia Commission & associated laboratories to accelerate the work of standardization and quality parameters of ASU drugs as per global requirements and acceptability. Another component is providing support to build up the initiative of safety monitoring of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs under the pharmacovigilance system, which was introduced in the country during the 11th Plan period, by designating one National Pharmacovigilance Resource Centre, 8 regional centres and 30 peripheral centres to develop the culture of reporting adverse drug reactions of ASU drugs (Rs.15 crore).

WHO APW Project "Development of Consumer Guidelines for Appropriate use of Ayurvedic Medicines "

Dear All Ayurvedic friends

We are working on  WHO APW project Development of Consumer Guidelines for Appropriate use of Ayurvedic Medicines" which will be based on practicing opinion of you all  .To get the questions and participate in survey please click on link


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dEI1YmxUWnhYNFhwUTl5ZUxWMXlZSnc6MQ#gid=0

We will be highly obliged to you for your  support in this project of national importance.

Please register your opinion up to 30 November ,2011. December 07 ,2011 is last date of submission of draft to WHO and 14 December,2011 is  assessment date of the draft at BHU by experts invited from all over country including representative of  WHO and dept of AYUSH,GOI .

With esteem regards,

Sneha Paka and Liposomal Drug Delievery system

Dear All


Please go through under mentioned link for complete reading of review paper published in AYU yesterday.


 http://www.ayujournal.org/text.asp?2011/32/1/103/85740

We wish you all happy Vijaya Dashmi .

With regards,

Invited member of the Sub-Committee of the Planning Commission Steering Committee for AYUSH

 I shall appreciate if any one comment substantially on undermentioned issue .

Anand Chaudhary  

Dear Dr Anand,

 

The AYUSH sector is rapidly changing and the newer challenges in the area of research, pharmacopoeial standards and industries need serious consideration. This needs quality inputs from experienced stakeholders, academicians, researchers, professionals and scholars like you.  You have been working in this area for a long time and your commitment to AYUSH sector is greatly appreciated.

I would like to request you to  contribute as invited member of the Sub-Committee of the Planning Commission Steering Committee for AYUSH. Please share your vision, views, suggestions, recommendations related to innovative schemes/programs to shape the 12^th AYUSH Five Year Plan (FYP). The Planning Commission recommends that the sub-committee should work electronically. As you would agree, this is very important participatory exercise to ensure right priorities, budgets and budgets for efficient implementation of the Plan. I am attaching herewith the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Sub-Committee as recommended by the Planning Commission.

Please note that the Planning Commission is looking for “innovation” in the 12^th FYP, hence the expectations from you is to propose only the most relevant and innovative schemes/programs. Even single innovative scheme recommended by you will suffice, but please prioritize and limit your recommendations, to a maximum of five.

As Chairperson, I will be consolidating all the responses and will be happy share a copy of the finalized draft recommendations for your information and records.  Kindly formulate your recommendation/s in the format provided in Annex 1 on or before 30^th August 2011.

We will exchange our thoughts using Google group. Please feel free to contact me or Dr Girish Tillu (gtillu@gmail.com, 09850026597) if you need any more information or assistance.

Please acknowledge and let me know your acceptance so that I can forward some data, which would be helpful for this activity. Your contribution in this exercise would benefit AYUSH sector and the nation.

Yours truly

Professor Bhushan Patwardhan

Vice Chancellor

Symbiosis International University

Lavale, Pune - 412115

INDIA

Tel: +91-020-39116201

http://www.siu.edu.in

www.jaim.in

Ayurveda and Anna

Dear All Ayurvedists

Anna has shown his strength to GOI ,world and most important is that he has been accepted by  common people of India. Reason of this wonderful success of Anna is his integrity ,honesty and dedication to the cause what he take up in his agenda at one time.

My most respected colleagues , can we draw some lessons from Anna and many more like him of past history of  our country.

Vd Shiva Sharma and Vd Anant Sharma initiated process of establishment of CCIM in 1965 and onward and succeded in 1970.

Vd Brihaspati Dev Triguna and his associates contributed in establishment of dept of AYUSH of GOI in 1993 and we are heading forward with the patronage of this dept.

Planning commission of India has constituted a sub committee for policies on Ayurvedic education of future apart from formation of national innovation council in chairman ship of Prof R H Singh.

Means we are moving for progress with all unsolved problems of past two three decades regarding propagation of Ayurveda nationally and internationally.

 But dear friends who may be our Anna to open our eyes on real causes of deterioration of status of  Ayurvedic studies and researches  in institution where 95 % ( almost every )  action/decision /nomination/assignments- academic and administrative are being done  just on the basis of caste line  and various kind of approaches which includes personal liking /disliking  (certainly not on basis of academic reasons ). This unilateralism has   ignored all academic merits of individuals  who are not of caste of holders of administrative post and don't have a strong political ,administrative approach  and not capable for  other transactions of different nature.

In other words ,we are not utilizing our full strength and loosing many momentous  opportunities in service of Ayurveda.

CME for Teachers of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishjya Kalpana at Bharati Vidyapeetha ,Pune

Dear All

I am delighted with the experiences I received and perceived at Bharati Vidyappetha ,Pune in CME for Teachers of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishjya Kalpana  (previously termed as RoTP)  on 25 July 2011.  Participants number is 30 covering all across country.Title selected by organizers are relevant to contemporary science and as per demand of present thrust area of pharmaceutics of Ayurveda. Boarding and lodging facilities are up to mark in guest house of  university.

All participants were keen to have knowledge and asking questions till 11.00 pm to resource is a good sign of awareness.But some of them ( read participants )  were disappointed by poor quality of students they are receiving due to  intake policy of management i.e. less percentage more money . It may be concern for every one.

I congratulate Prof Asmita Wele and her team for  her charismatic leadership and wonderful organisation on part of her entire team .    

A healthy decision - As published in Times of India

The move by select insurance groups to cover ayurvedic treatments is wise - and timely. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical practice, laced with philosophy around holistic health. It uses plant- and mineral-based medicines, yoga and other natural methods to combat illnesses. In contemporary times, with growing numbers of people rejecting chemical concoctions, ayurveda with its natural elements appeals powerfully to many.
As insurance companies themselves find, several subscribers prefer ayurveda over drugs for particular problems. It makes no sense to deny them insurance - simply because we don't believe in a non-western medical practice. Ironically, despite the large numbers of Indians reaching for ayurveda, India lags behind the world in giving it due recognition. Ayurveda is part of a wide international healthcare umbrella titled 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine' that includes traditional Chinese remedies, naturopathy and aromatherapy. These appeal to many seeking options beyond drug- and surgery-based allopathic practices, whose drawbacks are many.

Including ayurveda within insurance schemes will help India in the international patenting race, while assisting the science to rid itself of quacks domestically, propelling it towards greater standardisation and uniformity. It's always intelligent to be open-minded towards diverse cures that help the human body. When psychotherapy began, it was often dismissed as total quackery. Today, it's standard practice over the world, helping people understand their own behaviour. Mediclaim policies in India tend to be overly restrictive, confining themselves to hospital care beyond 24 hours. To gain more customers they need to widen their ambit. They shouldn't be criticised when they try to be innovative.

Ayurvedic Treatment under Mediclaim - As published in Times of India

Insurance companies' latest move to include alternative forms of treatment, such as ayurveda, is unfortunate in the extreme. Traditional medicines will promote quackery in general, when the need is to provide people access to scientifically proven medical treatments. While practitioners of traditional medicine practices may invoke historical and cultural continuity, this form of treatment is not medically ideal.

To begin with, there is absolutely no scientific basis for the supposed efficacy of traditional medicines. Often, their basic principles run contrary to the established axioms of medical science. More worrying, however, is that these medicines fail to adhere to quality and standards tests for production. Not surprisingly, even the WHO doesn't currently recommend these practices. This is when the UN agency has been at the forefront of the worldwide efforts to explore the potential of traditional medicine systems. The EU ban on the sale of ayurvedic and other herbal medicines as a response to growing concern over their adverse effects is another case in point. On top of it all, traditional medical practitioners may not be certified or licensed.

Compare this to conventional medicines, which undergo rigorous and controlled lab tests to meet international standards. Most importantly, their regimens are prescribed by properly trained and registered doctors. Given that ayurvedic treatments are cheaper compared to allopathy, insurers can discriminate in claims and reimbursements, pushing more and more people towards unproven remedies. Besides, ayurveda's inclusion may lead to demands for similar recognition for other traditional therapies such as faith healing or treatment by witch doctors. It's time to draw the line somewhere.

Ayush Dept making comprehensive dossier to gain recognition of ISM products abroad

With a view to promote Ayurveda and other Indian Systems of Medicines (ISM) abroad, the Department of Ayush is planning a slew of measures including the preparation of a comprehensive dossier of all aspects to be sent to Indian embassies and high commissions to enable them to take up recognition of systems with appropriate government and regulatory authorities in their countries.

The preparation of the dossier had been pending for some time now and the task has been entrusted to the Advisor (Ayurveda) to complete it at the earliest. Apart from this, efforts will be made to gain legal recognition of Indian systems abroad and hence the participation and cooperation in international events will be stressed and held in a more focussed way, sources said. A high-level meeting has been held by the Secretary of Ayush Department recently to chalk out the measures.

The department will also prepare a panel of persons in the government and the private sector with at least 15 years of experience to represent the country outside at the events. “Anyone going abroad must have experience and knowledge in the field as he would be representing not only the country but also the system,” sources said. The junior officers will be encouraged to go out and delegations would have at least one officer from the panel.

An important way of spreading the knowledge of the systems was through education of foreign students in our institutions. However out of the 50 or so scholarships being offered by the Government, there had been utilization of only around 50 per cent or so in the last few years. This had also been reviewed, and steps have been taken to substantially improve the level of utilization of these scholarships.

The high-level meeting also reviewed all the existing schemes being implemented by the Department. “These revisions had been done to ensure better implementation of the schemes in a more clear and transparent manner, to achieve important objectives such as meaningful and monitorable deliverables in the schemes. It was important to note that these revisions had been carried out without making any structural change, or change in the scale of financial assistance under the various schemes. The revisions already carried out were in the process of being placed on the Departmental website. Henceforth, all new proposals will be scrutinized on the basis of the revised guidelines,” a senior official said.

IAF plans to challenge the legality of THMPD in UK court

With an intend to show displeasure over the ban of all ayurvedic products in the European Union through the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), the International Ayurveda Foundation (IAF) will soon initiate legal proceedings under Article 234 EC in the Courts of the United Kingdom challenging the legality of the THMPD.

The IAF has prepared a 200 pages lengthy report based on three arguments. The first argument will be challenging the legality of how does the directive become a law since it is in contravention with lots of existing laws in EU. The second will be focusing on how EU is violating the European human rights legislation, and the third argument will be focused on how EU is violating the existing protocol of WTO treaty through this directive.

According to Praful Patel, general secretary, IAF they will be fighting either both of the first three suites together or one by one separately. However, he informed that only the Indian government is legally authorised to challenge in the third case since its a WTO matter. As of now the IAF is in talks with the barristers from the EU on these matter so that they can take this issue ahead, whereas, they are subsequently planning to have meeting with its advisors on Ayurveda soon.

Patel informs, “It is necessary to challenge the EU directive because if it remains unchallenged there is a good chance that even other countries like US, Australia, Canada may follow suit and ban the traditional medicines in their respective countries as well. If this happens, it will be a disaster for the five billion worth Indian ayurvedic industry.”

He said that it is a shame that the Indian government did not take any steps in this matter till now and that it does not have the political will to highlight the Indian issue at an international level. IAF has been advocating this issue from last seven years and got a lukewarm response from every sector. However, Patel is hopeful that things will change fast and the industry will rope in their support by providing financial help as well.

He pointed out that there is only one permanent solution to this critical issue and that is to suspend the directive with immediate effect and have a separate directive or law that would recognise the traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda as a separate entity. “Most importantly, we want the EU to take suggestions from the Indian government, IAF, etc while framing the law. It is important that individual systems should have recognised statutes since over 25 millions of people in Europe use traditional medicines,” added Patel.

Criticising the EU directive he said that the move to ban traditional medicines is an outcome of powerful European herbal lobby and will only lead to illegal use of medicines.

Stricter norms for colleges of traditional medicine

In order to ensure the quality of education to the students of Indian system of medicines and prevent mushrooming growth of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) and Homoeopathic Colleges, the Centre has issued stricter parameters for granting permission for setting up or upgrading the existing colleges.

From this academic year (2011-02), the Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has increased the requirement of minimum availability of teachers for under graduate colleges of ASU system from 28 to 32 teachers. In addition, there is now a mandatory requirement of one teacher in all the 14 departments of Ayurveda colleges, 8 departments of Unani colleges and 14 departments of Siddha colleges.

The new registration system has been introduced because many colleges were not complying with the guidelines specified for imparting AYUSH education with some of them attempted to indulge in unfair practices to project availability of infrastructure and teachers, Anil Kumar Secretary, department of AYUSH told reporters here on Tuesday.

India has 499 colleges teaching the Indian system of medicine — 311 colleges for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha and 188 colleges teaching homeopathy — which will have to follow the new registration system from 2011 academic year.

In view of the improvement in the availability of the higher faculties it has now also been decided to insist upon having minimum 10 teachers in the rank of professors of readers for admission capacity up to 50 students in Ayurveda colleges.

“By 2011 end, the Centre would bring out a gazette notification stipulating the levels of hard and soft infrastructure the colleges should have to receive the recognition. Once the new norms are notified, all colleges will have to follow it,’’ he said.

At present, colleges teaching Indian system of medicine and homeopathy require annual approval to admit new students. With the new notification, the government plans to do away with the annual inspection system. The notification would make it mandatory for all colleges to have the stipulated facilities and faculty.

The new norms, Mr. Kumar said, would be applicable for the current academic year though they are most likely to be retained or strengthened in the final notification expected by the end of this year which would be applicable from the next academic year. The hospitals, too, should be a properly functional one and not a proxy set up created solely for the purpose of inspection.

Since all medical colleges in the alternate system too are required to have a functional hospital, the inspection team would have to look at the patient records like pathological and radiological diagnostics, diet and medicine chart to determine if the hospital is really functional or not.

Keywords: AYUSH, alternative medicine, traditional medicine, regulation

Kerala HC stays govt order allowing traditional healers to practise ayurveda without registration

The operation and implementation of the Kerala government’s order of 21-2-2011 giving exemption to traditional ayurvedic healers of Kerala from acquiring recognized qualification and registration for practicing ayurveda has been stayed by the Kerala High court on April 26.

The court made the judgement on a petition filed by a group of ayurvedic doctors belonging to the Kerala unit of the Ayurvedic Medical Association of India (AMAI). For the AMAI, Advocate P Gopinath Menon appeared in the court.

Besides giving permission to traditional ayurvedic healers, the order of February 21 by the Kerala government had exempted self educated homoeopathic practitioners of Malabar area to practice homoeopathy system without registration and academic qualification.

The high court had earlier stayed the permission given to the fake homoeopaths following a petition submitted by All Kerala Homoeopathic Coordination Council (AKHCC), a movement of qualified homoeopathic practitioners, students, teachers and Medical officers of that system.

The members of AMAI approached the court under Article 226 of the constitution of India requesting to quash the government order issued on February 21 this year. The petition was filed in public interest as well as to protect the professional interests of the Ayurvedic Medical Offices Association.

Office-bearers of AMAI said one of the objectives of the petition was to ensure that quackery bringing disrepute to qualified and authentic medical practitioners be prevented and put an end to ayurvedic system of health care from being misused by quacks in disguise. They said the association has definite knowledge that a large number of bogus practitioners continued to defraud the public by masquerading themselves as Ayurveda doctors and thereby cheating the public.

The order said that the unqualified and self-learnt people hailing from traditional healers’ family of Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts and were in the practising field for a continuous period of 20 years prior to 01-01-2011,could continue their practice in the concerned system by virtue of their hereditary.

The government had issued the order based on section 38 of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Practitioners Act 1953. The government had also exempted these traditional practitioners from the requirement of recognized qualification and registration.

Members of AMAI said the government order is against the provisions of the central council act. According to the association, the provisions of the TCMP Act has never been extended to the Malabar area of the state of Kerala , which was part of Madras province of the British India, prior to the formation of Kerala in 1956. It was the Madras Medical Registration Act 1914 that regulated the practice of medicine in the Madras province.

Ayurveda in Allopathy - in 20 Hrs ?

Maharashtra to include Ayurveda as part of MBBS syllabus
Our Bureau, Mumbai
Saturday, April 23, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

The Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) will soon constitute an expert committee to discuss the new syllabus for the MBBS students for the coming academic year as it has been decided to include basic Ayurveda as part of MBBS syllabus in the medical colleges in the state.

A decision to include Ayurveda in MBBS syllabus was taken following recommendations from the Ayush department. There are 34 private and government medical colleges in the state. Their syllabus comes under the purview of the MUHS. According to the Ayush recommendations, every medical college should reserve at least 20 hours to teach ayurvedic science in MBBS classes.

Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “As per the suggestions made by Dept of Ayush we are meeting up to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.” He further informed that Maharashtra will be the first state for implementing such directives.

Dr Arun Jamkar, vice chancellor, MUHS said “We are meeting soon to form a committee to implement these directives and to discuss the new syllabus for the medical students for the coming year.”

Dr Vijay Magar, associate professor at the RA Podar Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Mumbai said “Ayurveda is an ancient medicine and the students are more interested in learning modern medicine. For this it is a nice move as modern medicine doctors should be familiar with ancient medicine and its treatment methodology. Every person should know about Ayurveda. Instead of devoting so much time for a course, we can have atleast one lecture every week. Like for conducting research in herbal products there are separate institutes.”

Dr Jamkar informed that as most of the universities across the world has been teaching the ancient medicine of their respective cultures. For instance, modern medicine doctors in China get lessons in Chinese medicine. “Finally we too are introducing the study of our ancient medicine. We are proud that ours will be the first state in the country to implement the Ayush directives”, he added.

MUHS ensures in proper and systematic instruction, teaching, training and research in modern medicine and Indian systems of medicine in the state of Maharashtra, and to have balanced growth in the medical sciences. They are taking initiative to implement this decision to attract more MBBS students to take up Ayurveda as the major subject to practice and to research on the same.

Scientific Study of Anti cancer drugs used by Vaidya by CCRAS and other Institutes of repute treating cancer

CCRAS approves 2 cancer drugs for trials, open to examine more drug claims
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) has in principle approved a couple of Ayurvedic drugs used by some prominent practitioners to successfully treat the cancer patients and is planning to launch the multi-centric clinical trials. The Council also disclosed that it was open to examine other such claims with regard to ongoing successful treatment of critical diseases by Ayurvedic practitioners.

On the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (Ayurveda), the CCRAS has initiated the study of ‘CARCTOL’ a proprietary medicine of Vaid Nand Lal Tiwari of Jaipur supposed to have anti-cancer properties. For verifying the therapeutic claim, standardization work has been completed by the Council. Safety and toxicity studies have also been completed, sources said.

“CARCTOL has also been subjected to in-vitro study at Advanced Cancer Research Centre of TATA, Mumbai against 14 types of human cancer cells out of which it was found effective against pancreatic and lung cancer. It was placed on record that CARCTOL is being used for treatment of cancer patients both in the country and abroad. After preparation of dossiers, multi-centric clinical trials will be conducted,” sources in the Council said.

Pre-clinical study of ‘Cancer Gaza Kesari’ a proprietary drug of Vaid Krishan Gopal of Ajmer has also been conducted by the Council in collaboration with Veterinary College, Chennai. The study revealed that the drug significantly reduced the mammary tumour incidence, latency, frequency, rate of growth and malignancy. It was also subjected to in-vitro study against 14 types of human cancer cell line, out of which it has shown to be of effective against pancreatic and lung cancer, Council official said.

A pilot project was sanctioned by the Ministry in 1996 to study the effects of metal based formulations prepared by Vaid Balendu Prakash of Dehradun in the treatment of Acute pro-myllolic Leukaemia. The drug was patented jointly by the Council with Germany. Vaid Balendu Prakash has been treating cancer patients with the drug and the patent was in fact for the process. “So far only a pilot study of 21 patients has been conducted by the Council. Multi- cultural clinical trials of the drug were to be undertaken which would take four years,” sources said.

In another effort to develop ayurvedic drug for cancer, clinical trials of 'AYUSH QOL – 2C' developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) for improvement of quality of life of those receiving chemotherapy/radio-therapy, have been initiated at St. Johns medical college, Bangalore and at the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi. The ethical approval and release of funds for trials at AIIMS have been completed and the registration of patients will begin shortly. Simultaneously, 10 patients have been enrolled for study at St. Johns Medical College.

“Whenever any claim is submitted to Council, the same is examined and put before Scientific Advisory Committee to carry out scientific validation. In this context, two claims on cancer have been subjected to pre-clinical studies based on which clinical trial will be carried out as per lead. If any drug is finally marketed, the benefit will be shared by Council and the claimant,” sources said about possibility of examining claims by practitioners.

Marma at College of Ayurveda in USA ? What about Indian Colleges of Ayurveda in mass ?

An Ancient Art that Balances Body and Mind: Marma Point Training Offered this Summer by the California College of Ayurveda

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

________________________________________
Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 05, 2011
Marma points are 107 energetic body points that allow access to the body, mind and consciousness. Marmas are commonly used in Indian martial arts and are used in Ayurvedic Medicine to bring about healing. The California College of Ayurveda announces its Marma Therapy course this summer as part of the pancha karma training intensives.
Marma therapy can be used as part of a panchakarma program. Pancha Karma (Panchakarma) is the Ayurvedic art of detoxification, purification, and rejuvenation, and is a powerful way to address the root cause of disease and has been used for thousands of years as a method for staying healthy, young, and vital.
Marmas are related to our mind and our emotions. In the words of Dr. David Frawley, "marmas can held emotions such as fear (vata), anger (pitta) or attachment (kapha), as well as the gunas or primary qualities of sattva (calm), rajas (aggression) and tamas (inertia)."
The California College of Ayurveda offers complete training in Ayurvedic marma therapy as part of its panchakarma and Ayurvedic training intensives. During the program, students will learn the history, classifications, theory and locations, and the effect of each point on the doshas and organs of the body.
Students will learn how to interact with each marma point using massage, essential oil application and pranic healing (Ayurvedic energy work) to restore balance to the body and mind. Specific protocols will be taught for bringing healing to different organ systems.
Established in 1995, the California College of Ayurveda is the longest running, State-approved college offering professional training program for the study of Ayurvedic Medicine in the West. For more information, please visit Ayurvedacollege.com or call (530) 478 9100

Extremely needed action from regulatary authorities - Congrats to every shareholder responsible for action againt Musali Xtra power -Success of Alertness

Kerala govt bans production and sale of herbal aphrodisiac, ‘Musli Power Xtra’
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, April 05, 2011, 11:40 Hrs [IST]

The Government of Kerala has banned the production and sale of the popular herbal aphrodisiac, ‘Musli Power Xtra’, being produced and marketed by Kunnath Pharmaceuticals, for violation of the provision of Rule 106 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Rule 106 specifies that no drug may purport or claim to prevent or cure or may convey to the intending user thereof any idea that it may prevent or cure, one or more of the diseases or ailments specified in Schedule J. This Schedule includes, among other diseases, sexual impotency also. Kunnath Pharma has given wide publicity for their aphrodisiac product in print and visual media.

Government took the crucial decision to prohibit the drug under section 33 EEC of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act which empowers a state government to ban a herbal drug in certain cases, sources from the health ministry said.

The state government will also file a prosecution case against the Ernakulam based manufacturing company under Misuse and Improper use of Emblem Act as in the advertisement of the herbal product the company has reportedly used a picture that the managing director receiving an award from the President of India, sources from the health ministry told Pharmabiz.

Later while speaking to this reporter, KC Abraham, the MD of Kunnath Pharma said he was called to New Delhi previously by Rashtrapathi Bhavan sources to seek explanation from him for the use of the picture in the advertisement, and he assured them not to repeat it in future. He added that so far he did not get any information from the Kerala government banning his herbal drug.

According to section 33 EEC, from the date on which a state government notifies the prohibition in the official gazette, no person, either by himself or any other person on his behalf, can manufacture the product for sale or for distribution. Sources in the health ministry said government has banned the drug on April 2 and the notification has already been sent for official publication in the gazette.

The state Ayurveda drugs controller, N Vimala, said their department has received the prohibition order from the government and she would intimate it to Kunnath Pharmaceuticals today. The DC said the company is facing four cases in various courts with charges under Spurious Drugs Act and violation of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act,1954.

DMROA Act has been enacted with a view to control the advertisements of drugs in certain cases and to prohibit the advertisements for certain purposes of remedies alleged to possess magic qualities. Schedule J of the D&C Rules 1945 also deals with objectionable advertisements. The ADMROA Act also specifies the prohibition of advertisement for certain drugs, especially in the category of drugs described as aphrodisiac.

Besides the cases filed by the drugs control department, a Kochi based social organisation, ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has also filed a writ petition with the High Court of Kerala against Kunnath Pharmaceuticals for violation of DMROA Act 1954.

Earlier the drug authorities of Kerala had challenged the efficacy of Musli Power Xtra which claimed it had the potential to boost sexual power in both men and women and a reliable remedy for infertility related problems. Through wide advertisement in print and visual media, the company has been enjoying extensive sales all over the country and outside.

Sources in the health department said in the company’s website they have given obnoxious publicity to attract young men and women by giving the impression that the drug would increase the sexual passion. Further it has published fake feedbacks as positive experiences of consumers irrespective of their age.

Six months ago, the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (DIPS&R) had found that among five ayurvedic formulations marketed in the country by various manufacturing companies, Musli Power Xtra was adulterated and mixed with Tadalafil (phosphodies).

In one of the cases filed against the company, the charge was for change of ingredients. Initially, in the approval granted for production of Musli Power Xtra formulation, the main ingredient indicated was the seed of ‘Nilappana’ (Curculigo Orchioides), but the company made the drug with the extracts of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum Borivilianum) for which no licences had been given then. But later, Safed Musli was included in the pharmacopoeia and subsequently the company secured a separate licence as it is the main ingredient.

Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic Drugs – A Pragmatic Approach for its Proficient Practice

Ayurveda, one of the most appreciable systems of medicine is making its high perception among common masses across globe on virtue of its fundamental doctrines to treat human with medicine as well as modification in life style, not only account of materialistic criteria but with eliminations of mental critics too.

The commercial component of companies and indefinable individuals involved in business of Ayurvedic medicines lead to several kinds of compromises and corruption causing continuous conditions of critical care for system of Ayurveda from all corners of continents, concomitantly.

The phenomenon of Pharmacovigilance is performed worldwide in conventional system of medicine (modern alias allopath) since more than half centuries to ensure safety and efficacy of different dosage forms of modern medicine. Certainly, there is pioneer contribution of this programme which ascertained withdrawal of many molecules after reports of their adverse drug reactions through pharmacovigilance and post marketing surveillance.

Encouraged by success of these programmes, World Health Organization convinced deptt of AYUSH of Government of India to bring Ayurvedic medicines under set up of surveillance for its monitoring on established parameters of safety and efficacy of a medicine through a Pharmacovigilance programme specially designed for Ayurvedic ,Siddha and Unani Medicines. On 29 September, 2008 National Pharmacovigilance Programme for Ayurvedic Siddha and Unani Drugs was launched by central government recognizing Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar as national resource centre for this programme.

Till date national centre is working with paraphernalia of eight regional centers and with aim of association of each college of systems of AYUSH all across country, all the way through pharmacovigilance cell. In conduction of this programme colossal contribution are being made from research councils of AYUSH namely Central Council of Ayurveda and Research in Ayurveda and Siddha. For acquaintance of pharmacovigilance programme to all stakeholders of Ayurveda namely physicians and teaching fraternity of Ayurvedic institutions, in all CME and RoTP programme of dept of AYUSH, lectures on Pharmacovigilance are being arranged as mandatory schedule. This is apart from the CME held by National Pharmacovigilance center. Moreover, subject matter of Pharamcovigilance has been instituted in under graduate and post graduate syllabus of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishjya Kalpana and Dravya guna.

The specific goals of Pharmacovigilance programme for Ayurvedic medicine are to-

1. Improve patient care and safety in relation to use of Ayurvedic medicines and other interventions.

2. Improve public health and safety in relation to the use of Ayurvedic medicines.

3. Contribute to the assessment of benefit, harm, effectiveness and risk of medicines, encouraging their safe, rational and more effective (including cost-effective) use, and

4. Promote understanding, education and clinical training in Pharmacovigilance in terms of Ayurvedic medicines and its effective communication to the public.

Many cases have been reported in recent past regarding adverse drug reactions and interactions of drug –drug, food- drug etc at various national and international forums .Hence, this Pharmacovigilance programme specifically meant for Ayurvedic drugs may serve the cause in understanding of Early detection of hitherto unknown adverse reactions and interactions of Ayurvedic drugs. Detection of increases in frequency of (known) adverse reactions of Ayurvedic drugs. Identification of risk factors and possible mechanisms underlying adverse reactions.

More so ever, for the guaranteed success of Pharmacovigilance programme it is compulsory that Pharmaceutical companies of Ayurveda should promise to each consequent consumers of Ayurveda that they are engaged for every achievable to assure pledged safety and promised efficacy of these medicines .

The accomplishment of any Pharmacovigilance system is in its ability to prevent further adverse reactions by interpretation of information received. Therefore, with salutation we recognize supremacy of a physician in reporting of onset or offset of any ADRs of Ayurvedic Medicine and seek his/her prominent contribution in achievements of the pharmacovigilance programme of Ayurvedic medicines.

To achieve these objectives there is a define process of planning and execution of pharmacovigilance programme of Ayurvedic medicine which may be discussed elaborately in workshop.