harmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)
Parent Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India Established: 2010 (renamed in 2014; restructured in 2020) Status: Subordinate Office under the Ministry of AYUSH Headquarters: Kamla Nehru Nagar, Post Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad – 201002, Uttar Pradesh Official Website:https://pcimh.gov.in
What Is PCIM&H?
The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) is the national standard-setting body for drugs and formulations of Indian systems of medicine — Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy.
It develops and publishes Pharmacopoeias and Formularies, establishes testing standards, and serves as the central appellate drug-testing laboratory for AYUSH medicines in India.
In simple words — PCIM&H ensures that the Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathic medicines you buy are safe, effective, and of assured quality.
Vision & Mission
Goal
Description
Standardization
To establish quality standards for raw materials and finished ASU&H medicines.
Regulatory Support
To aid regulators and manufacturers in ensuring drug safety and compliance.
Digital Access
To digitize pharmacopoeial data and make it easily available to all stakeholders.
Global Alignment
To harmonize Indian AYUSH standards with international benchmarks.
Public Health Protection
To guarantee safe and reliable AYUSH medicines for every citizen.
Historical Background
Year
Milestone
2010
Established as the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine (PCIM).
2014
Homoeopathy was integrated; renamed as Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H).
2020
Cabinet approved restructuring as a subordinate office under Ministry of AYUSH by merging Pharmacopoeia Laboratory for Indian Medicine (PLIM) and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL).
2023–25
Expanded into digital publication, global collaborations, and ISO certification.
Core Functions
Category
Description
Pharmacopoeial Development
Formulates and publishes monographs for raw materials and finished ASU&H drugs.
Formulary Compilation
Prepares official formularies for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathic medicines.
Drug Testing & Validation
Acts as central drug testing and appellate laboratory for ASU&H drugs.
Quality Assurance
Provides reference standards and testing protocols to state drug control labs.
Research & Development
Conducts scientific validation, chemical profiling, and marker identification.
Training & Capacity Building
Organizes workshops for regulators, researchers, and manufacturers.
Digital Integration
Publishes online monographs and e-libraries for easy access.
Harmonization
Aligns AYUSH standards with international pharmacopoeias (USP, WHO, ISO).
Publications & Standards
Publication
Description
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)
Official book listing standards for single and compound Ayurvedic drugs.
Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI)
Standards for Unani medicines and raw materials.
Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI)
Standards for Siddha preparations.
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI)
Standards for Homoeopathic drugs and preparations.
Formularies
Lists of approved formulations and preparation methods.
Reference Standards
Authenticated samples for lab validation and calibration.
As of 2025: Over 2,600 pharmacopoeial standards and 400+ formulation standards published. Digital access provided through PCIM&H’s official portal and e-office platform.
Laboratories & Infrastructure
Unit
Function
Central Drug Testing Laboratory
Quality testing of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathic medicines.
Herbal Research Laboratory
Botanical identification, phytochemical studies, and marker analysis.
Reference Standard Repository
Storage of authenticated drug samples for national reference.
Digital Archive Unit
Electronic database for all pharmacopoeial monographs.
🧾 Certifications: PCIM&H holds ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 14001:2015 (Environment), and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Safety) certifications.
Collaboration & Linkages
Partner
Collaboration Area
Ministry of AYUSH
Policy, oversight, and national drug standardization.
AYUSH Research Councils (CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRS, CCRH)
Collaborative research and testing.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)
Raw material quality and sourcing.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Integration of AYUSH standards with national standards.
WHO & USP
Harmonization of herbal standards and global recognition.
AYUSH GRID
Digital integration and interoperability.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiary
Benefit
Practitioners
Reliable standards ensure safer prescriptions.
Manufacturers
Clear, uniform guidelines for production and labeling.
Regulators
Standardized criteria for licensing and drug control.
Researchers
Access to validated monographs and reference materials.
Consumers
Quality assurance in AYUSH medicines.
Key Achievements
Published Pharmacopoeial Standards for 2000+ herbal raw drugs and formulations. Merged PLIM and HPL for unified operations. Launched online monograph access and e-office portal. Developed Reference Standards for 300+ raw materials. Conducted national-level capacity-building programs for drug regulators. Supported the AYUSH export industry through validated testing methods.
Who’s Who (Leadership & Governance)
Designation
Officer Name
Role
Director, PCIM&H
Dr. Raman Mohan Singh(as of 2025)
Head of Commission overseeing all scientific, administrative, and regulatory functions.
Joint Secretary (AYUSH Drugs Policy)
—
Policy and coordination with Ministry.
Chief Pharmacopoeial Scientist
—
Development and review of pharmacopoeial monographs.
