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No research outcome at CCRS even after 10 years of formation
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
June 07 , 2019
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Although the Central Council of Research in Siddha (CCRS) based in
Chennai was carved out of Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and
Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi a decade ago, no research activity is being
carried out in CCRS for the last ten years, according to retired
officials of Ayush department and Siddha experts who initiated efforts
for bifurcation of the council.
The CCRS is not carrying out any
activity to achieve its goal or performing any work mandated as its
responsibility after it was bifurcated and shifted to Chennai in 2010,
says Dr M A Kumar, former adviser to Siddha in the Ayush ministry. Dr
Kumar was instrumental in separating the Siddha research council from
CCRAS with a view to carry out efficient research oriented activities.
According
to him, the money allocated for various research activities and studies
remain unutilised every year because of dearth of any project and
proper planning. No performance audit is conducted at the council by the
ministry and no authority is monitoring the council’s activities.
Even
after ten years of its existence the council is not focusing on its
mandated responsibilities including undertaking of clinical studies on
diseases of national priorities, standardizing the most frequently used
Siddha medicines and bringing out the pharmacopoeial standards, filing
of patent applications for new drugs, carrying out researches in
traditional palm leaves manuscripts and books, conducting research
activities in medicinal plants and herbs, holding pharmacological
studies in the safety and efficacy of Siddha products..etc. Owing to
lack of vision and planning, the money funded by the ministry of Ayush
for research activities remain unused without any research work, Dr
Kumar alleges.
Sharing more information on the issue, Dr.
Thirunarayanan, a Siddha expert and trainer in Chennai, said the CCRS in
Chennai has so far not brought out any clear research outcome or
clinical studies on diseases. According to him, the council is spending
huge amounts of money in the name of research without any study or any
result. Regarding pharmacopoeaial standards of Siddha formulations, not
even a single study has been published by the council. At the time of
the combined councils, there were some studies published on single
ingredients standards. In the last ten years, CCRS Chennai filed only
two patent applications, but no special or significant innovation was
made. Huge amounts of money was spent in the name of patents.
He
said the clinical units set up in Chennai and in Pondicherry as part of
research studies do not attract adequate number of patients. Although
there are centres in Bengaluru, Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai,
Pondicherry and Palayamkottai, no multi-centre trials or studies are
taken place due to lack of proper planning or vision.
The former
Siddha adviser, Dr M A Kumar said at the time of bifurcation, the then
department of Ayush and Siddha wing was expecting that the council
people would do researches with a new vision and planning. All the
expectations of those who undertook initiative for creating a separate
council have failed now. No body in the council is showing any interest
for a good research study. The ministry of Ayush is neither encouraging
nor monitoring the activities of the council.
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