“Traditional
medicine will not be ignored once it is scientifically proven
…says Ranjit Anand Puranik, executive director and chief
executive officer, Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd. Traditional
Indian medicines hold tremendous scope today and the burgeoning
demand for it has become prominent. Even scholars of Western
medicine are turning to the study of ayurveda with great hopes
and expectations. Hence, ayurvedic formulations have a bright
future in the years to come for those whose approach has been
backed by fundamental homework. Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd
has witnessed robust growth due to the vibrant stewardship
of Puranik, who has been a part of the company since 1991.
He also serves as general secretary in the Ayurvedic Drug
Manufacturers Association (ADMA) and is member of the standing
committee on Medicinal Plants and Bio-Resources. In addition,
he is a member of the managing committee in Health Foods and
Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA). Here, Puranik offers
an insight into the Indian ayurvedic classical medicine in
an exclusive conversation with Richy D Alexander. Excerpts…
Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd and its performance in the
industry…
Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd, probably one of the oldest ayurvedic
companies in the world, was established in the years prior to
1872 by my great-great grandfather Vaidya Krishnashastri Puranik.
Despite being a family-run group, it is entirely professionally
managed. Our company holds major stakes in ayurvedic classical
medicine. This medicine segment has steadily grown since the
last 35 years. We have had a compounded growth rate between
15-24 per cent in the last seven to eight years.
We are probably one of the first companies ready to offer completely
documented dossiers for all our traditional ayurvedic formulations.
Hence, Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd can boast of high-quality products,
even when it comes to complex compounds like bhasmas, churans,
rasa-aushadhies, heavy metals and mineral-containing products.
We are in a position to quantify the formulations and one way
we do this is by following scientific manufacturing methods.
This is why our company has a growing patronage in ayurvedic
classical medicine.
In terms of market size, we probably rank number three or four
as far as ayurvedic classical products are concerned. We also
market ayurvedic ethical products, which come under the umbrella
brand of our separate company - Solumiks Herbaceuticals Ltd.
This company has 25 brands and it markets products to both,
allopathic as well as ayurvedic practitioners. We have been
witnessing steady growth and the group is poised to cross around
Rs 50-55 crore in the current year in terms of group turnover.
. General performance of
alternative medicine practices in India and abroad…
The general performance of alternative medicines
in India is much better than any other country with a traditional
science heritage. Most of us compare Indian companies with
Chinese ones, but when we compare on the basis of scientific
validation, pharmacopein monographs, ancient scriptures being
documented and published, I feel India scores more than China.
This is because its traditional medicinal system is much more
defined as compared to Chinese medicine. India is among one
of the first countries to enact the Drugs and Cosmetics Act
and declare GMP standards for traditional medicinal sciences.
Since India has the oldest heritage medicinal sciences, it
is already way ahead in terms of rules and regulations. However,
every reform has oppositions and there is a tremendous amount
churning in this sector to get updated in terms of a global
expectation. On the whole, the sector has taken giant strides.
India’s progress actually began in 1994 when the Department
of AYUSH was carved out in the Ministry for Health and Family
Welfare giving it an impetuous. The establishment of the department
was followed by an entire governance structure being born
and this is something that is bearing fruits today.
The ayurvedic industry uses 960 medicinal plants (3,20,000
tonne) on a common basis. The commerce in medicinal plants
is around Rs 1,000 crore per year and nearly 178 medicinal
plants are consumed in excess of 100 tonne per annum. In India,
we have a rich biodiversity because we have 16 eco-climatic
zones. We have medicinal plant resources coming into the industry
from almost every eco-climatic zone. The Himalayas has an
abundant quantity of herbs and roots. These herbs are also
collected from some portions of China and Indonesia.The ayurvedic
industry uses 960 medicinal plants (3,20,000 tonne) on a common
basis. The commerce in medicinal plants is around Rs 1,000
crore per year and nearly 178 medicinal plants are consumed
in excess of 100 tonne per annum. In India, we have a rich
biodiversity because we have 16 eco-climatic zones. We have
medicinal plant resources coming into the industry from almost
every eco-climatic zone. The Himalayas has an abundant quantity
of herbs and roots. These herbs are also collected from some
portions of China and Indonesia.
The industry is now waking up to the major problem of sustainability.
Besides, in the coming time we can see an organic medicinal
plant requirement which will pose different challenges in
supply sources. This kind of progress that is happening in
the sector will help it cater to a global consumer for natural
products..
Emerging trends and opportunities in the Indian ayurveda
industry…
One trend that we will witness include companies using certified
raw materials obtained from nature. Moreover, we would get
these precious raw materials as packaged commodities, on which
a label would provide information about the date/season of
harvest, the farm where it was grown or the forest from where
it was collected, etc. Another new innovation in ayurveda
would be scientifically presented ayurvedic formulations.
Already manufacturers have begun carrying out clinical trials
and studying medicinal plants thoroughly. Traditional medicine
will not be ignored once it is scientifically proven safe
and revalidated as efficacious. After this is done, echo of
traditional medicine from India will have a universal patronage
from medical practitioners from all pathies.
Tradition survives all kinds of challenges in every era. The
biggest heritage of our ayurveda will serve us. These are
the scopes and opportunities that I see in future. Ayurveda
is not about ingredients, it is the use of ingredients in
combination.
Unravelling the science of ayurveda is a challenge and an
opportunity never attempted before and this would take medical
sciences to a different paradigm. We, in the ayurvedic sector,
believe that this would be the time when Ayurveda would come
of age and be appreciated as complete life science and not
just another tradition that came down the ages by default.
.
On the hurdles faced by the Indian
ayurvedic industry…
The kind of challenges faced by this sector is huge, the biggest
one being resource security. As far as ayurveda, siddha and
unani industry is concerned, the formation of the National
Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) has seen area under agriculture
for medicinal plants going from modest level to over 2 lakh
acres under contract cultivation in only seven to eight years.
In spite of all these problems, the industry has survived
and is in fact making giant strides with the NMPB to resource
security.
Another issue is that we do not have blockbuster medicinal
plants. Moreover, the lack of research has lead to poor marketing
of ayurvedic medicines, because if one does not have well-documented
science in place then one wonders what one is really marketing.
Hence, from serious pharmaceutical in ayurveda, we have moved
on to cosmetic products like soaps, toothpastes, hair oils
and minor digestives. We have moved away from serious pharmaceuticals,
therapy and healthcare.
On the controversial article published by JAMA…
The Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association (ADMA) strongly
retaliated to an article that was published in the Journal
of America Medical Association (JAMA) about the presence of
heavy metals in ayurvedic medicine. It seems to me that the
authors of the article are harbouring some preconceived notions
about ayurvedic medicines to the extent that one could question
their motive to undertake and publish such an ill concieved
study. It is surprising that a prestigious journal like JAMA
allows itself to incomplete studies like one initiated by
Dr Saper et al.
The issue is why the authorities did not go forward to take
more of the product samples and prove that a particular formulation
is toxic?
Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd’s latest innovative R&D
in classical ayurvedic drugs...
We are probably the only company, which has made 14 studies
about acute and chronic toxicities on some formulations commonly
used in classical ayurvedic medicines containing mercury and
lead. Our studies have been analysed by a third party and
they have found our formulations to be absolutely safe for
human consumption as per ayurved dosage prescriptions.
Future outlook for Shree Dhootapapeshwar
Ltd and the industry at large…
Every year we launch around 20-40 products. So, from a traditional
classical range of around 80 products five years ago, today
we have already crossed the number of 220. Now, we plan to
cross 300 products in the next two years. We also plan to
be a single window service provider in terms of medicines
and will probably have the largest ayurvedic range in the
coming time.
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