History of Organization

Indian System of Medicine is the greatest gift to the peoples of world for healthy living. The Indian System of Medicine has it root from 2500BC onwards. Mostly the Siddha System of Medicine has its ethical value in eradication of various diseases. In 1940 the British Indian Government has passed the legislation for drugs control and its regulation, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act was passed. In 2014, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) was formed from the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopaty (ISM&H) with a view to provide focused attention for the development of Education and Research in AYUSH System.

In State level, Office of State Licensing Authority for Indian Medicine was created with effect from 29.11.2007 under Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu. The creation of office of State Licensing Authority for Indian Medicine has provided the legal enforcement of Chapter IV-A of the Drugs and cosmetics Act 1940.

The State Licensing Authority is the licensing authority for the grant or renewal of a licence to manufacture for sale any Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs and also approving authority for approval of institutions for carrying out tests on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs and raw materials used in their manufacture on behalf of licenses for manufacture for sale of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs.

The District Siddha Medical officers are designated as Drug Inspector (Indian Medicine) for the purpose of implementation of the provisions pertaining to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945. Subject to the instruction of Controlling Authority, the Drug Inspector (Indian Medicine) is authorized to inspect premises, take samples and institute prosecution in respect of violation of the Act and Rules made thereunder. In Tamil Nadu there are around 537 manufacturing units are licenced to manufacture for sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs and 13 institutions have been approved for carrying out tests on ASU drugs and raw materials.

In G.O.(D) No.18, Health and Family Welfare (IM2-1) Department, dated 09.01.2023, Dr. Y R. Manekshah, Lecturer Grade II (Siddha), Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai had been appointed as the licensing authority of Indian Medicine for the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu.