New Delhi : The number of licensed pharmacies which produce medicines under the Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy (Ayush) has declined by almost 1.6 per cent in the last ten years, even as the ratio between good manufacturing practices (GMP) complied facilities and those which are non compliant has shifted significantly in favour of GMP compliance.
According to the latest annual statistical data of the Ministry of Ayush, as of April 1, 2021, there were 8,648 original licensed Ayush drug manufacturing units and 1,294 loan licensed units in the country. The number of original licensed units has seen a decline of 1.6 per cent in 10 years, from 8,785 units in 2012.
Out of the 8,648 units, around 7,491 manufacturing units are engaged in manufacturing of Ayurveda drugs, whereas, 608, 208 and 341 manufacturing units are involved in manufacturing of Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy drugs respectively.
There are 28 states and Union Territories of the country which have Ayush Licensed Pharmacies as on 01.04.2021. Uttar Pradesh has the Maximum number 1768 (20.44%) of Ayush Licensed Pharmacies. Maximum number of Ayurveda and Unani pharmacies, that is, 1,416 and 322 respectively existed in the Uttar Pradesh, whereas, maximum number of Homoeopathy Licensed Pharmacies (160) existed in West Bengal and Siddha Licensed Pharmacies existed in the State of Tamil Nadu (197).
The data shows that while around 6,687 units were GMP compliant and another 2,098 units were non-GMP compliant in 2012, the numbers have shifted favourably towards GMP compliant units in 2021, with 8,232 units complied and 416 units non compliant.
Out of all drug manufacturing units, GMP-compliant units comprised 95.19% of the total drug manufacturing units, whereas; Non- GMP-compliant units comprised 4.81% of the total drug manufacturing units, according the Ministry.
“During the recent past, the inclination of the populace towards the Ayush system of medicine has been observed. To meet the increased demand of Ayush medicines, and to provide Ayush medicines of reasonably good quality, there is a need to have licensed pharmacies for Ayush medicines with good manufacturing practices certificate,” it added.
Out of the total licensed manufacturers in the country, around 40 are government units while the rest are in the non-government segment. In the private sector, almost 7,460 units are manufacturing Ayurveda, 604 in Unani, 205 in Siddha and 339 in Homoeopathy segments, as on April 1, 2021. Of this, one government owned unit and 415 non-government units are non-GMP compliant.
There are 1,271 Ayurveda manufacturing units and 23 Unani units in loan licensed Ayush units in the country.
