Dr.Amritpal singh- PROFESSOR (DRAVYAGUNA)-SS Ayurvedic college-Bhikhi (Mansa)

Dr.Raman Sharma- READER (SWASTHAVRITTA)-SS Ayurvedic College-Bhikhi (Mansa)

Introduction

Several courses related to Dravyaguna are available in AYUSH institutions and universities in India. As far as professional Ayurveda course is concerned, Dravyaguna is studied at graduate level in second year of Ayurvedachrya course (abbreviated as B.A.M.S). The postgraduate course available in Dravyaguna is abbreviated as Ayurveda Vachaspati or Doctor of Ayurveda-M.D. - Dravyaguna Vigyan. In pharmaceutical sciences, postgraduate course abbreviated as M. Pharm. - Dravyaguna is offered by few institutions and universities in India. Ph.D courses are also available in Dravyaguna, abbreviated as Ayurveda Varidhi-Ph.D. – Dravyaguna.

Post-graduate Diploma Course in Dravyaguna Vigyan

Indian Medicine Central Council (Post-graduate Diploma Course) Regulations, 2010, was implemented in order to regulate the Post- graduate Diploma course of Ayurveda. These regulations are now called the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post-graduate Diploma Course) Amendment Regulations, 2013. There are sixteen specialties for Post-graduate diplomas. Post-graduate diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan is known as Ayurvedic Pharmacognosy & Standardization and abbreviated as D. Pharmacognosy (Ay.). 

A person possessing the degree in Ayurvedacharya (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) of a University or Board or medical institution specified in the Second Schedule to the Act shall be eligible for admission in the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Dravyaguna Vigyan. PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan can be conducted where Post-graduate degree course in Dravyaguna Vigyan is being conducted by the Institution. 

PG Diploma Course Dravyaguna Vigyan can be conducted only with the permission of Government of India in accordance to Section 13-A of IMCC Act, 1970. The duration of PG Diploma Course Dravyaguna Vigyan is of two years. A similar diploma course abbreviated as P.G. Diploma in Ayurvedic Drug Standardization is offered by Department of Dravyaguna, Banaras Hindu University. On similar lines, a Certificate Course on Standardization of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant Material has been initiated by Postgraduate Department of Dravyaguna of National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur.

Utility of PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan

PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan is not popular among Ayurvedic graduates mainly due to non-awareness. Post Graduate Diploma Dravyaguna Vigyan holder is eligible to join Post Graduate i.e. MD (Ay.) Ayurved Courses in the Dravyaguna Vigyan specialty and the duration of course for such candidates shall is two years only. On the other hand, the conventional Ayurveda-M.D. - Dravyaguna Vigyan course is of three years duration. 

When it comes to the utility of PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan, the course is extremely useful for B.A.M.S degree holders joining as technical person for Ayurvedic pharmacy or drug inspector in government sector. The diploma holders can join as faculty in institutions providing education in Ayurvedic pharmacy like Diploma in Ayurveda (D. Pharm (Ay.). Further, there are avenues for joining as an expert in testing laboratories involved in herbal drug testing and standardisation. These people can start up crude drug stores providing raw-material to the Ayurvedic drug industry including manufacturers and medicinal plant growers. 

Keeping in mind the growing demand of Ayurvedic formulations in the Indian and international market; there is an acute shortage of trained manpower. Ayurvedic formulations, also referred to a Traditional Medicines, are making dramatic comeback and in order to generate advantage of the recent developments, arrangement of   trained manpower is essential. 

Future of PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan

The major challenge in sustaining courses like PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan is lack of interest and awareness among students passing out Ayurvedic courses at graduate level. The major step for promoting these types of courses is to create awareness among B.A.M.S degree holders. 

Here, it is worthwhile to discuss the awareness of M.S. (Traditional Medicine) course offered by Department of Natural Products of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali.  B.A.M.S degree holders are eligible to appear in the entrance test for admission to M.S. (Traditional Medicine) course. However, there is no awareness among B.A.M.S degree holders that an institute of national importance is offering such an innovative course. 

Ayurvedic courses offered by Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara and Bengal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata are popular probably due to campus placement of the candidates.  We need to create employment opportunities for Ayurvedic medicine and pharmacy graduates and postgraduates; otherwise, it is not possible to sustain courses like PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan.

Role of State Faculties and Boards in Promoting Ayurveda Courses

State Faculty of Ayurveda and Unani Systems of Medicine have played a significant role in providing trained manpower for Ayurvedic drug industry.  Punjab State Faculty of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine was established in the year of 1963 and is empowered to confer degrees, diplomas and certificates in the Ayurvedic System and Unani System of Medicine. The faculty is running course known as D-Pharmacy (Ayurvedic) popularly known as Up-vaid. The pass out of D-Pharmacy (Ayurvedic) should be prepared for courses like PG Diploma in Dravyaguna Vigyan so as to boost the career. 

Dravyaguna and Ayurvedic Drug Industry

Dravyaguna and Rasa Shastra are the backbone of Ayurvedic pharmaceutical Sciences and the drug manufacturing sector. In this regard, Diploma in Dravyaguna and Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics-Ras Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana (abbreviated as D. Ras Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana) are underutilized. In recent times, the importance of Dravyaguna has increased manifold as commercial value of Rasa Shastra has suffered since the article on heavy metal in Ayurvedic formulations has been published in Journal of American Medical Association. There is a definite scarcity of trained Ayurvedic professionals for complying with the norms of the Drug and Cosmetic Act applicable to Ayurvedic drugs. 

Majority of the M.D. Dravyaguna degree holders are employed as faculty in Ayurvedic colleges. Ayurvedic manufacturing units usually employ technical persons with B.A.M.S or rarely B.Pharm (Ayurveda) qualification. Since, Dravyaguna is a non-clinical subject and B.A.M.S graduates lack exposure to industrial norms and provisions of the Drug and Cosmetic Act. B.A.M.S graduates looking for career in Ayurvedic drug industry must look forward for enhancing qualification by opting for PG Diploma in Dravyaguna. 

PG Diploma in Dravyaguna has good future as far as pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are concerned. An array of medicinal plants are used in AYUSH Systems of Medicine and an professional qualification in Dravyaguna (degree or diploma) has an advantage for person holding B.A.M.S degree. 

Central Council of Indian Medicine and PG Diplomas

Central Council of Indian Medicine must take mandatory steps to make PG Diploma courses popular among Ayurvedic graduates. The bitter truth is that Ayurvedic graduates are attracted towards Allopathic System of Medicine owing to limited career resources in Ayurveda.  It is responsibility of Central Council of Indian Medicine and Department of AYUSH to ensure that commercial utility of Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Siddha Systems of Medicine is enhanced so that lucrative career opportunities should be available for degree and diploma pass outs.  

Conclusion

Career prospects in Ayurveda as a system of medicine have definitely improved in the recent past. The point which needs immediate attention is that selectiveness as far as introduction of a diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate course in AYUSH. Due to growing popularity of Ayurveda, there has been mushroom growth of diploma courses. The regulatory bodies must identify the genuine utility of these courses and look forward to absorb the Ayurvedic graduates. 

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