Baidyanath To Implement Gmp At Kolkata Unit

Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan, one of country's leading traditional medicine manufacturers, is implementing GMP (good manufacturing practice) at its Kolkata plant in a bid to meet the global demand for standardised practice.

R K Sharma, director, BAB, said SGS of Switzerland has been contracted to carry out the GMP implementation process. "The Swiss company was appointed a couple of months ago. It will take four months to complete the project. We will apply for GMP to the Drug Controller of India and to the WHO (World Health Organisation). After the Kolkata plant is certified, we will use the know-how to implement it in the company's nine other plants in the country," he said.

The company decided to go for GMP accredition because it would be applying soon for approvals from USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) for some of its products . The norms laid down by FDA demand quality management which GMP certification ensures. Baidyanath has nearly 700 products of which 50 are patented.

The company is also restructuring its marketing network by setting up a 'consumer products' division. Around 17 products will be brought under the division to facilitate sale from general outlets, Sharma said.

The company has recently launched 'Sundari Kalp Forte', a drug for menstrual disorder. The company has two ayurvedic centres in Italy and New Zealand. It is planning to open two more centres, at Florida, USA, and Frankfurt, Germany. In USA, Baidyanath will be operate through a subsidiary called Good Earth. The centres will be run on franchise basis.

Baidyanath clocked a turnover of Rs 170 crore in 2000-1. Sharma hoped that, with the introduction of new products and by restructuring the marketing network, the company would achieve Rs 200 crore sales this year.