Showcasing leadership in herbal medicine regulation, India made a significant contribution to the 16th Annual Meeting of the World Health Organization–International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO–IRCH)—being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 14 to 16.
The event brings together global regulatory authorities and experts to strengthen international cooperation and harmonisation in the regulation of herbal medicines. India’s participation reaffirms its ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation and advancing global benchmarks in the field of herbal medicine regulation.
The India delegation to Indonesia was led by Dr Raghu Arackal, Advisor (Ayurveda) and Ayush Deputy Director General (I/C). The delegation presented reports during technical sessions held on the second day of the event.
Dr Arackal presented a report on ”Efficacy and Intended Use of Herbal Medicines”, highlighting India’s evolving regulatory framework and evidence-based policy initiatives in traditional medicine.
Dr Raman Mohan Singh, Director, Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), presented the Workshop Report on ”Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines ”. He also delivered a separate presentation on “Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines – Indian Perspective”.
Both workshops were jointly organised by the World Health Organization and hosted by the Ayush Ministry with support from PCIM&H. They were held from August 6-8 in Ghaziabad, India, and served as key preparatory inputs for the WHO–IRCH meeting.
In addition, Dr Mahesh Dadhich, CEO of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), co-presented a session on “Quality Control, Standardisation and Sustainability of Herbal Medicines” alongside Dr Singh.
The Indian delegation’s comprehensive contributions underscore India’s pivotal role in shaping global standards for the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicines. Through active collaboration with international regulatory bodies under the aegis of WHO–IRCH, India continues to champion the cause of harmonised and science-based regulation in traditional medicine and natural product-based healthcare.