[india-drug] Drugs in garb of food supplements under scanner

[Sunitha Srinivas <s.srinivas@ru.ac.za>]

(Source:
http://www.phronline.net/article/detnews.asp?articleid=14511&sectionid=3
Thanks?.SS)


Drugs in garb of food supplements under scanner: Sushma Swaraj
---------------------------------------------------------------

Our Bureau, Chennai

Numerous Indian herbal products and formulations are being sold in the
country and abroad in the label of food supplements, and it is
necessary to bring in a mechanism to ensure the quality of these
products, according to Sushma Swaraj, Union Minister for Health and
Family Welfare. 

Hinting at the proposed nutraceutical policy of the Government, the
minister noted there was growing demand among the national and
international community for traditional herbal drugs and products. 

But the quality and claims of these products need to be monitored. Many
of the traditional drug-manufacturing units in the country still follow
substandard and unhygienic manufacturing practices. 

The present drug enforcement mechanism lacks enough qualified drug
inspectors. The Government was yet to bring in effective set of
standards and guidelines to ensure quality and certify the products,
noted the minister, while inaugurating the new building of the Regional
Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai. 

The department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathy (AYUSH) has taken up work for finalizing pharmacopical
standards for ISM drugs, involving 32 state drug laboratories in the
country. 

Regional laboratories having adequate infrastructure have been directed
to issue special quality certification to traditional drugs as per the
provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 

Since the states were the licensing and implementing authorities,
respective states should encourage improving the basic infrastructure
for drug standardization and quality assurance, especially for quality
testing of ISM drugs and products. 

Manufacturers should be encouraged to send their products for quality
testing which would ultimately help them to popularize traditional
drugs, said Sushma Swaraj.


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