• Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav launched a portal for real-time monitoring and coordinated action on misleading advertisements on traditional medicine and adverse drug reactions.

• The ‘Ayush Suraksha’ portal represents a significant advancement in pharmacovigilance and regulatory convergence within the AYUSH  ecosystem.

• It aims to strengthen consumer protection and regulatory oversight in traditional medicine. 

• The portal has been developed in accordance with the Supreme Court’s July 30, 2024, order. 

• The Supreme Court had emphasised the need for a centralised dashboard for monitoring and publishing data related to misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions.

• The court had directed the Union government to ensure the setting up of a system to allow state licensing authorities to report complaints, share inter-state referrals, and update the status of actions taken.

What is the significance of this portal?

• Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) systems of medicine are being practised in India for a long time. 

• There is a widespread misconception that all drugs of “natural” origin are “safe”. There is also a common belief that long term use of a medicine based on tradition, assures both safety and efficacy.

• In this era of globalisation, concerns are being raised with regards to their clinical safety. 

• Non-compliance to the traditional regulations of therapeutics will manifest in adverse events.

• Pharmacovigilance is the science dedicated to reduce the risk of drug-related harms to the consumers. Looking into the conditions prevailing in the present scenario, it is high time to deliberate regarding the concerns over traditional and classical Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy products and practices. 

• The purpose of the Pharmacovigilance initiative for ASU&H drugs is to collect, collate and analyse data to establish evidence for clinical safety of ASU&H drugs and undertake surveillance of misleading advertisements of these drugs.

• By integrating data from state licensing authorities, national pharmacovigilance centres, and key regulatory stakeholders, the Ayush Suraksha portal facilitates real-time monitoring, systematic analysis, and coordinated action on misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions.

• Developed with technical support from the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and aligned with the National Pharmacovigilance Programme, the portal allows consumers, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities to report and monitor misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions through a seamless digital process.

• The portal reflects the ministry’s unwavering commitment to responsible governance, evidence-based practices, and the safety of millions of citizens who trust and rely on India's traditional systems of medicine.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)