India will host the World Health Organization (WHO) – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) workshop from August 6 to 8. Organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with WHO and supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the three-day international workshop aims to strengthen global capacity in the regulation of herbal medicines.
The workshop is expected to serve as a platform for international cooperation and technical exchange, focusing on five key objectives – fostering collaboration, enhancing safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting regulatory convergence, and empowering traditional medicine systems globally, an Ayush official said.
Among the highlights are reviews of WHO–IRCH working groups on safety, regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines, along with sessions on pre-clinical research, regulatory frameworks, and safety case studies, including a focused discussion on Ashwagandha.
“Participants will benefit from hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemo-profiling using HPTLC technology at PCIM&H laboratories. The workshop will also introduce the Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) programme, aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of traditional medicines,” the official explained.
To provide exposure to India’s integrative health ecosystem, the delegates will also visit PCIM&H, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.
With participation from regulatory authorities and experts across continents, the Ministry noted that the workshop is expected to significantly contribute towards harmonising global standards and promoting the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into mainstream public health systems.
Published – August 05, 2025 06:04 pm IST
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