One Herb, One Standard (OHOS) Scheme
Recently an Inter-Ministerial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to promote and facilitate One Herb, One Standard (OHOS).
- The MoU has been signed by Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).
- It aims to promote public health by facilitating the development of harmonized herbal medicine standards.
- Pharmacopoeia is a reference book for the preparation of quality medicines. It is published by a government authority or the concerned society.
- At present, different standard and analytical methods have been published in the Pharmacological Codes of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) as compared to the Indian Pharmacopoeia.
- The Ministry of AYUSH seeks to address these complexities of varying standards through the OHOS initiative.
- PCIM&H shall have the sole right to publish the monograph (Special Article) under OHOS.
Importance of Memorandum of Understanding-
- It will improve the ease of doing business in India and overall trade of Indian botanicals.
- Will make possible the publication of monographs on pharmacology. Manufacturers, researchers and regulators of herbal medicines can use it.
- It will also contribute to the effort of self-reliant India.
- Will improve ease of doing business and overall trade of Indian botanicals.
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC),
It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Functions of IPC:
- It regularly improves the standards of medicines usually required for the treatment of diseases, publishes official documents to improve the quality of medicines by adding new monographs and revising existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia.
- The Indian Pharmaceutical Code has got legal status under the Second Schedule to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)
It is a subordinate office of the Ministry of AYUSH.
Key Functions-
- Developing pharmaceutical codes and drug formulations.
- To act as the Central Drug Testing cum Appellate Laboratory for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
Source- The Hindu
