Two-week training programme on herbal drugs starts at NIPER

Mohali: A two-week-long intensive training programme on trends and challenges in regulation and standardization of herbal drugs and formulations commenced at NIPER here.

As many as 16 participants from 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and Uzbekistan, are participating in this event, which is being sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Speaking on the occasion, National Institute of Pharmaceutical and Education and Research (NIPER) Course Coordinator Sanjay Jachak said there is an immense potential for herbal drugs in the country.

"The global market of herbal drugs at present is USD 75 billion, which is set to touch 100 billion by 2024. However, India is contribution is just one percent in the global market," Jachak said, adding that a lot of work is being done in nutraceuticals sector in the country.

Herbal products can be used in treatments of several diseases such as diabetes and infections.

Stressing on courses for herbal drugs and formulations, Jachak said the use of traditional medicines (TM) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) has seen an upsurge in both developed and developing countries.

The major concern of health authorities and the public is the safety and efficacy, as well as the quality control, of these medicines, which is a huge challenge, he said.

"These challenges are related to regulatory status, assessment of safety and efficacy, quality control, safety monitoring and lack of knowledge about TM/CAM within national drug regulatory authorities," said Jachak.

The proposed course aims at creating a platform for discussing issues related to herbal drugs worldwide and in the process impart knowledge about recent developments in the ever-changing dynamics of herbal drugs and their formulations.

It also aims at promoting the rational development of herbal drug products.

During inaugural function of the training programme, NIPER Director Raghuram Rao Akkinepally welcomed the participants, saying it can add new expertise and knowledge to their experience.

The course on herbal regulation and standardization is essential for the establishing the herbal products' market for the benefit of society.

Akkinepally said the training programme, which was being conducted at NIPER, was part of the capacity building exercise.

The biggest challenge before herbal products was the regulation, he stressed.

The director said NIPER was the only institution in the country that offers courses on traditional medicine.

Nine resource persons from the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and regulatory agencies will deliver lectures and participate in the deliberations.

Six sessions will be held on hands-on training experience on different analytical instruments.