Pondicherry to establish drug testing lab to augment quality of Ayush products

Chennai, May 28, 2022:

Following the Central policy to augment the quality of Ayush drugs through the scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), the Union territory of Pondicherry is going ahead with a plan to establish one drug testing laboratory for ASU&H with grant-in-aid from the Union Ministry of Ayush.
 
For establishing the sophisticated lab, the government of India will give Rs. 3 crore to the drugs control department of the UT under the scheme AOGUSY, said Ananda Krishnan, the drugs controller.
 
According to him, AOGUSY is a revised scheme of three schemes existed earlier to ensure quality assurance of Ayush drugs and according to it, financial aid will be given to states and union territories by the Ayush ministry to enhance manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines and health promotion products under the initiative of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
 
Further, the scheme will facilitate adequate infrastructure and technology upgradation in the public and private sector for standardization, quality manufacturing and analytical testing of Ayush drugs and materials. Thirdly the scheme will help strengthen the regulatory framework at central and state level for effective quality control, safety monitoring and surveillance of misleading advertisements of Ayush drugs.
 
Apart from these, AOGUSY scheme will encourage building up synergies, collaboration and convergent approaches for promoting standards and quality of Ayush medicines and materials.
 
While talking to Pharmabiz, Ananda Krishnan, the drugs controller said there are certain areas of development the Ayush ministry wants to provide financial support through the scheme. They are establishment of Ayush pharmacies, drug testing laboratories, upgradation of manufacturing facilities in the private sector and for setting up drug testing laboratories attached to private manufacturing units. 
 
While giving approval to the department of drugs control which is the regulatory body for ASU&H in Pondicherry, the government has clarified that the amount of Rs. 3 crore availing through the scheme will be utilized for strengthening the infrastructure and technology upgradation which will help to acquire NABL accreditation to the lab and to meet the recurring costs.
 
According to the DC, the government is taking all preparations to set up the lab very soon. As part of it, the department of drugs control in association with Ayush drug manufacturers association, conducted one Regulatory Training Programme at Hotel Royal Park in Pondicherry on May 27, in which senior officers in the departments of health and all other stakeholders participated. Pharmabiz