AYUSH Drug Testing Labs Strengthened for Quality
The Ministry of Ayush has taken significant steps to strengthen the quality assurance and regulatory framework for AYUSH medicines in India. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Shri Pratap Rao Jadhav informed that the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) functions as the Appellate Drug Testing Laboratory for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs, ensuring compliance with identity, purity, quality, and strength standards.
Under the Drugs Rules, 1945, 34 State Drug Testing Laboratories have been supported to enhance their infrastructure and functional capacity. In addition, 108 laboratories across India are approved or licensed for quality testing of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs and raw materials, while three Regional Research Institutions of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences are approved under Rule 160E for drug testing purposes.
To further safeguard public health, the Pharmacovigilance Programme for ASU&H drugs has been implemented under the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY). The programme operates through a nationwide three-tier network comprising one National Pharmacovigilance Centre, five Intermediary Centres and 97 Peripheral Centres. These centres monitor adverse drug reactions and misleading advertisements, reporting violations to State Regulatory Authorities. So far, 3,533 awareness programmes have reached more than 3.18 lakh beneficiaries across the country.
The Ministry is also promoting quality certification of AYUSH products through global and national mechanisms. Certification of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPP), aligned with World Health Organisation guidelines, has been extended to ASU medicines and is administered by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Additionally, the Quality Council of India provides the Ayush Mark certification based on third-party evaluation. With a financial allocation of ₹122 crore under AOGUSY (2021–22 to 2025–26), the Government aims to upgrade AYUSH pharmacies, drug testing laboratories, and research infrastructure, reinforcing India’s commitment to national and international standards in traditional medicine.
