1Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, incorporated on 12.07.1978, is a Government of India Enterprise comes under the Administrative Control of the Department of India Enterprise comes under the Administrative Control of the Department of AYUSH, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, New Delhi, having its registered office and factory at Mohan (Via-Ramnagar), Distt. Almora, Uttarakhan-244715.The Company is Schedule D, “Mini-Ratna” Category-II, GMP Certified Central Public Sector Undertaking. The Company had obtained an ISO 9001-2008 certificate.
Statutory Regulatory Councils
1. Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), New Delhi
The Central Council of Indian Medicine is a Statutory Body constituted under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970. The Central Council of Indian Medicine with the previous sanctions of the Central Government as required under Section 36 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,1970 and after obtaining the comments of the state Governments as required under Section 22 of the said Act has prescribed courses for Under-graduate and Post-graduate Council has prescribed 14 Regulations to achieve the goal of the Central Council.
2. Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), New Delhi.
The Central Council of Homoeopathy is a statutory body constituted under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, which provides for the maintenance of a Central Register of Homoeopathy and for other matters connected therewith. The Central Government had amended Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 on December 9,2002, and amended Act had been enforced w.e.f. 28th January,2003.
National Institutes
Eleven apex educational institutions are established to promote excellence in Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy education. In each system, there is a national institute viz., – National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur, National Institute of Homeopathy (NIH), Kolkatta, National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN)pune, Institute of yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai, Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), New Delhi, All India Institute of Aurveda, New Delhi (under construction), North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong (under Construction), and North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine, Passighat(under construction)
National Medicinal Plants Board
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) is an apex national body which coordinates all matters relating to medicinal plants in the country. It acts as advisory body to the concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies in strategic planning for medicinal plants related initiatives and to provide financial support to programmes/schemes relating to conservation, cultivation and also all round development of the medicinal plants sector.
Drug Quality Control
The Drug Control Cell (DCC) in the Department of AYUSH deals with regulatory and quality control matters of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs including amendment in the regulations, introduction of new regulations and examination of other drug related issues.
AYUSH SYSTEMS
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a classical system of healthcare originating from the Vedas documented around 5000 years ago and currently recognized and practiced in India and many countries of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the oldest healthcare systems that take a holistic view of the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of human life, health and disease. Scattered references of health, disease and use of natural sources for treatment were initially made in the Vedas (particularly in Rigveda and Atharvaveda) and at around 1000 B.C the knowledge of Ayurveda was first comprehensively documented in the compendia called Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. According to Ayurveda, health is considered as a basic pre-requisite for achieving the goals of life-Dharma(duties),Arth (finance), Kama (action) and Moksha(salvation). As per the fundamental basis of Ayurveda, all objects and living bodies are composed of five basic elements, called the pancha Mahabhootas, namely: Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Akash(ether). The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the fundamental correlation between the universe and the man. Ayurveda imbibes the humeral theory of Tridosha-the Vata(ether+air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha( earth+water), which are considered as the three physiological entities in living beings responsible for all metabolic functions. The mental characters of human beings are attributable to Satva, Rajas and Tamas, which are the psychological properties of life collectively termed as “Triguna”. Ayurveda aims to keep structural and functional entities in a state of equilibrium, which signifies good health Swasthya. Any imbalance due to internal or external factors leads to disease and the treatment consists of restoring the equilibrium through various procedures, regimen, diet, medicines and behavior change.
Unani
Unani System of Medicine originated in Greece and passed through many countries before establishing itself in India during the medieval period. This system is based on the techings of Hippocrates and Gallen, developed into an elaborate Medical System by Arabs. It is based on well-established knowledge and practice relating to the promotion of positive health and prevention of diseases. The Unani system became enriched by imbibing what was best in the contemporary systems of traditional medicines in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, China and other Middle East countries. The system of medicine was documented in Al-Qanoon, a medical Bible, by Sheikh Bu-Ali Sina (Avicene, 980-1037 AD), and in Al-Havi by Razi (Rhazes,850-923 AD) and in many other books written by the Unani physicians. The literature of the Unani system is mostly found in Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages.
The Unanai System is based on the Humoral theory i.e the presence of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile in a person. The temperature of a person can accordingly be sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic depending on the presence and combination of humors. According to Unani theory, the humors and medicinal plants themselves are assigned temperaments. Any change in quantity and quality of the humors, brings about a change in the status of the health of the human body. A proper balance of humors is required for the maintenance of health.
Siddha
The Siddha System is one of the ancient systems of medicine in India having its close blend with Dravidian culture. The term term Siddha means achievements and Siddhars are those who have achievement and siddhars are those who have achieved results in medicine. Eighteen Siddhars are said to have contributed towards the systematic development of this system and recorded their experiences in Tamil language.
Yoga
The word “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to unit or integrate”. Yoga is about the union of a person ‘s own consciousness and the universal consciousness. It is primarily a way if life, first propounded by Patanjali in systematic form. It consist of eight components namely, restraint Yama, observance of austerity Niyama, physical postures Asana, breathing exercise Pranayam, restraining of sense organs Pratyahar, contemplation Dharana, meditation Dhyan and Deep meditation Samadhi. These steps in the practive of yoga have the potential to improve social and personal behavior and to promote physical health by better circulation of oxygenated blood in the body, restraining the sense organs and thereby inducing tranquility and serenity of mind. Yoga is a promotive, preventive rehabilitative and curative intervention for overall enhancement of health status.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is rooted in the healing wisdom of many cultures and time based on principle of natural healing. The principles and practices of Naturopathy are integrated in the life style, if the people observe living close to nature. Naturopathy is a cost effective drugless, non-invasive therepy involving the use of a natural materials for health care and healthy living. It is based on the theories of vitality,toxiemia, self healing capacity of the body and the principles of healthy living. Naturopathy is a system of simple natural treatment and also a way of life widely practiced, globally accepted and recognized for health preservation and management of illnesses without medicines. Naturopathy advocates living in harmony with constructive principles of Nature on the physical, mental, moral and spiritual planes. It has great promotive, preventive, curative as well as restorative potential.
Sowa-Rig-pa
“Sowa-Rig-pa”,commonly known as Tibetan or Amchi medicine, is the traditional medicine in many parts of the Himalayan region used mainly by the Tibetan people. Sowa-Rig-pa (Bodh-Kyi) means ‘science of healing’ and the practitioners of this medicine are known as Amchi. In India, this system of medicine has been popularly practiced in Ladakh and Paddar-Pangay regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhan, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling-Kalimpong(West Bengal) Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) and in Tibetan settlement all over India and abroad.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)
The resource base of AYUSH is largely plants. The increasing global interest in natural remedies has increased the demand for medicinal plants which are mainly sourced from the wild. This has led to the emergence of a number of issues like sustainability, conservation, cultivation, quality assurance, protection and related issues of access and benefit sharing. To coordinate all these matters, Government of India has established the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) under the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. NMPB is the apex national body which coordinates all matters relating to medicinal plants in the country. The Board was established in November 2000 and acts as advisory body to the concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies in strategic planning for medicinal plants related initiatives and to plan and provide financial support to progrmmes relating to conservation, cultivation and all round development of the medicinal plants sector. The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare is the Chairperson while the Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare is the Vice-Chairperson of the Board.
Department of Health Research (DHR)
The President notified the creation of the Department of Health Research (DHR) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through an amendment to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 on the 17th September, 2007. The Department of Health Research was formally launched on 5th October, 2007 by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Science in a function presided over by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare.
National AIDS Control Programme
The first National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) was launched in 1992 for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India. This was followed by NACP II in 1999 and NACP III in 2007. During different phases of the programme, the focus shifted from raising HIV/AIDS awareness to behaviour change, from a national response to a more decentralized response and to increasing involvement of NGOs and networks, of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Based on the lessons from NACP I and II, the government designed and implemented NACP III.
NACP Phase –III (2007-2012) has the overall goal of halting and reversing the epidemic in India. This phase has, therefore, placed the highest priority on preventive efforts by integrating prevention with care, support and treatment through a four-pronged strategy.
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