A proposal to set up a Central Drug Controller's office for ayurveda, siddha, unani and homoeopathy drugs was sent to the Finance Ministry and 13 posts, including that of a Drug Controller General (Ayush), has been agreed upon.
This was informed today by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Choudhary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The minister said an allocation of Rs 102 crore has been provided for the initiative under the 12th plan budget including Rs 7.6 crore for the current financial year.
Choudhary said five posts of deputy/assistant drug controllers and seven drug inspectors have also been agreed upon.
On whether the present regulatory system is adequate for monitoring of quality, safety and efficacy of Indian system of medicine, the minister said there are adequate provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules for the regulatory framework for monitoring safety and efficacy of drugs of ayurveda, siddha and unani systems.
Choudhary said an appellate laboratory - Pharmacopoeial laboratory of Indian Medicine - has been set up by the central government, but the department of Ayush in the Health Ministry has no proposal in the 12th Plan to set up any laboratory for testing ayurveda, siddha and unani medicines.
