Parl panel seeks creation of separate drug controller for AYUSH medicines

New Delhi: A parliamentary committee on Thursday sought creation of a separate drug controller for AYUSH medicines and drugs in a time-bound manner to ensure they are on a par with international standards.

The committee, which pointed out that market of Indian herbal drugs was declining worldwide, lamented the delay by the AYUSH ministry in fulfilling the assurance given on the issues of separate drug controller and legislations for education and practice of AYUSH systems of medicine.

According to the report submitted in the Lok Sabha today, the ministry had moved a proposal for setting

up a separate drug controller for AYUSH medicines and it was put up for Cabinet approval.

However, upon a directive from PMO, the ministry decided to set up a vertical structure of AYUSH in the existing Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

"Putting AYUSH drugs under the same structure of CDSCO as allopathic medicines is gross injustice towards AYUSH medicines and will not lead to fulfilment of the assurance which was give," the report stated.

Since an inordinate length of time has been taken by the ministry without fulfilling the assurance, the committee directed the ministry to fulfil it in a time-bound manner and, meanwhile, also furnish a part implementation report detailing steps taken by it to ensure quality, safety, efficacy and standard of AYUSH drugs in the country.