A Central Regulatory Structure for AYUSH drugs being set up as a part of CDSCO: AYUSH Minster

Government has considered for setting up a central regulatory structure for AYUSH drugs. Recently, talking about the developments Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Shrived Yesso Naik apprised the Lok Sabha.

In this regard, the government has decided to have a vertical structure for AYUSH as a part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to enforce the provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic drugs in coordination with the State regulatory authorities.

Procedural steps for setting up this structure have been initiated but the actual timeframe for its operationalisation has not been specified at this stage. Presently, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules thereunder having exclusive provisions for AYUSH drugs are enforced by the State Governments and there is no separate central agency for regulation of AYUSH medicines.

However, Ministry of AYUSH has notified creation of 12 posts of Deputy Drugs Controllers, Assistant Drugs Controllers and Inspectors of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy and the matter of vertical structure for AYUSH drugs in CDSCO is followed up regularly with the Department of Health & Family Welfare.