Ministry of Ayush notifies Pharmacopoeia Committee and sub-committees under PCIMH

New Delhi, July 12, 2022:

The Union Ministry of Ayush has constituted a Pharmacopoeia Committee (PC) and four sub-committees under the Committee to support the functioning of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H).

The 16-member PC will be headed by Prof. Mita Kotecha, Pro Vice Chancellor (in-charge) and Dean, UG Studies of National Institute of Ayurveda, as the chairman. The other fifteen members include joint director of PCIM&H as the ex-officio member secretary, managing director of IMPCL, deputy drug controller of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy, chairmen of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy sub-committees, an expert each from chemistry, pharmacognosy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy, and two non-official co-opted members.

The 16-member Ayurveda sub-committee under the PC is headed by Dr Galib from All India Institute of Ayurveda, with two experts each from Rasa Shastra, Dravya Guna, Pharmacognosy, chemistry, industry and director general - CCRAS as members. Two co-opted members and principal scientific officer in chemistry, Pharmacognosy and Ayurveda from the concerned section are also part of the sub-committee.

The 16-member Siddha sub-committee is headed by Dr G Veluchamy, former director, Central Research Institute for Siddha, along with the director general of Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), four members from Gunapadam, three from Pharmacognosy and one each from chemistry, industry, along with two co-opted members and three ex-officio members.

The 14-member Unani sub-committee is headed by M A Waheed, former director of Central Research of Unani Medicine, along with the director general of Centra Council for Research in Unani Medicine, two experts each from Dawasazi and Ilmul, one expert each from pharmacognosy, chemistry and industry. Two co-opted members and three ex-officio members are also listed in the sub-committee.

The 14-member Homoeopathy sub-committee is headed by Dr V K Gupta, who has been the chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), along with the Director General of CCRH, two Homoeopathy experts, two Homoeopathy Pharmacy Expert, a pharmacognosy, chemistry and Industry experts each have also been appointed in the sub-committee.

“The tenure of the Pharmacopoeia Committee (PC) and Ayurveda sub-committee, Siddha sub-Committee, Unani sub committee, Homoeopathy sub-committee thereunder shall be for a period of three years from the date of notification or till further orders, whichever is earlier and the members shall not hold the office for that period,” added the notification issued by the Ministry.

In November, 2021, the Ministry of Ayush has announced the constitution of Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), with expert Prof M C Sharma as the chairman. The decision comes as part of the Centre’s efforts to promote Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) systems of medicine.

The Centre in 2021 approved the PCIM&H by merging Pharma Laboratory of Indian Medicine (PLIM) and Homoeopathy Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL). In an amendment on the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 2021, in March 23, 2021, it has announced that the PCIM & H and Central Drugs Laboratory of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy to function as Central Drugs Laboratory for the purpose of testing or analysis of Ayush drugs.

In the amendment, the Ministry said that it will constitute the SAB for the PCIM&H, to advise the Central government, the state governments and the stakeholders on the matters of standards, standard operating procedures and testing protocols of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy Drugs. The functions of Scientific Advisory Board may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy therein, it said.

The notification in November said that the Commission shall also constitute a pharmacopoeia committee and sub-committees there for a period of three years on the recommendation of SAB. The meetings of the Scientific Advisory Board, Pharmacopoeia Committee and Sub-committees shall be supported by the Commission.

PCIM&H, a subordinate office under Ministry of Ayush, is designed for the development of Pharmacopoeias and Formularies as well as acting as Central Drug Testing cum Appellate Laboratory for Indian systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy as its key fields of activity. Pharmabiz