Oushadhi 

About Oushadhi – Kerala Govt. Ayurveda Enterprise

Oushadhi, formally The Pharmaceutical Corporation (Indian Medicines) Kerala Ltd, is a fully Government of Kerala–owned public-sector company based in Kuttanellur, Thrissur, Kerala. Originating in 1941 as the “Sree Kerala Varma Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy” initiated by Maharaja Kerala Varma VI of Cochin, it was later reconstituted as a co‑operative in 1959, and incorporated in 1975 as its current corporate entity oushadhi.org. Today, it stands as the largest Ayurvedic medicine producer in India's public sector, offering a portfolio of approximately 498 classical & proprietary formulations.

Ownership & Leadership

Oushadhi is entirely owned by the Government of Kerala, under the supervision of the Health & Family Welfare Department . Its top leadership includes:

• Chairperson: Smt. Sobhana George en.wikipedia.org
• Managing Director: Dr. T. K. Hrideek oushadhi.org

A board of directors oversees corporate governance, maintaining accountability through an RTI-compliant structure listing clear roles—from the MD & financial controller to departmental managers in production, QC, marketing, HR, and more .

Manufacturing Facilities & Quality Standards

GMP & ISO Accreditation

Oushadhi adheres to WHO‑GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for its manufacturing and quality systems. The facility boasts a modern quality control laboratory accredited by the AYUSH Ministry, ensuring rigorous testing from raw material sourcing to final packaging.

Manufacturing Units

• Kuttanellur (Thrissur): The primary manufacturing campus, equipped with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including a quality control lab, raw material cleaning, packing, and finished goods storage.
• Muttathara (Thiruvananthapuram): A newer unit dedicated to proprietary preparations.
• Regional distribution centres: Located at Pariyaram (Kannur) and Pathanapuram (Kollam).

Research & Ayurveda Hospital

Oushadhi has developed a full-fledged R&D facility since 2008, staffed by experts in Ayurveda, botany, chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacy. This lab has innovated methods to increase the efficacy and safety of traditional Ayurvedic formulations.

Complementing its manufacturing and research, the enterprise runs a Pancha Karma Hospital & Research Institute in Thrissur, first established in 2004 with 30 beds and recently expanded to 50 beds.

Product Range & Distribution

• Produces around 450 classical formulations and 25 patent‑proprietary medicines, totaling nearly 498 products.
• Acts as sole supplier to Government Ayurvedic dispensaries across Kerala and in 19 other states (e.g., Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh).
• Maintains a dealer network of ~650 outlets across India and offers reimbursement for central/state government employees.

Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

To support raw‑material consistency and potency, Oushadhi has established medicinal plant nurseries and extension gardens in Kuttanellur and Pariyaram. These initiatives include cultivation in schools and spread across 150 locations, giving seedlings to 20 key species and raising plantings on dozens of acres scribd.com.

Financial Performance & Public Sector Model

Oushadhi has been consistently profitable since 1999, paying annual dividends to the Government of Kerala—e.g., ₹1 crore in recent years. Its reported revenue is approximately ₹40 crore, with net income around ₹6.7 crore. It operates under government accountability norms, with structured financial control and annual audits.

International Standards & Future Vision

Oushadhi aspires to evolve into a world‑class AYUSH pharmaceutical manufacturer, targeting a turnover of ₹500 crore by 2025–in alignment with its vision declared in 2020 and beyond. International outreach includes:

• Seeking consultants to establish an Ayush Pharma Park and International Centre of Excellence in Kannur, as signaled by a 2019 Expression of Interest.
• Possible future expansion into export markets, tapping into the global herbal products boom and complementary medicine demand.

Strategic Strengths & Core Values

Strengths:

• As a public‑sector entity, it benefits from state funding & stability.
• Equipped with modern manufacturing & QC infrastructure.
• Commanding market demand due to reliable gov‑backed Ayurvedic products.
• Experienced workforce and leadership continuity.

Core Values:

Mutual trust & respect, customer satisfaction, strict quality control, strong professional ethics, and continuous modernization.

In short, For over 80 years, Oushadhi has seamlessly blended traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern manufacturing excellence. Fully owned by the Kerala government, it adheres to international quality standards (GMP & ISO), serves millions through government healthcare channels, and operates with financial transparency and accountability. With solid performance, strategic R&D, hospital operations, and expansion plans—including an international Ayush Pharma Park—it is well poised to meet its target of becoming a global-class Ayurvedic pharma enterprise.

Payment Methods

💵 Cash

Almost all Oushadhi outlets accept cash. It remains the most widespread and primary mode of payment at government-run Ayurvedic pharmacies and counters.

💳 Card Payments

Most public sector payment locations in Kerala now support debit and credit card transactions via POS machines. Though not officially confirmed, it’s very likely that this facility is available.

📱 Digital Wallets & QR Payments

Given the prevalence of UPI and mobile wallets in Kerala’s public sector, it's common to see options like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc. in similar government-run outlets. Again, while not formally confirmed by Oushadhi, it’s a reasonable expectation.

Service Locations

Oushadhi serves a broad national footprint with a focus on Kerala and expanded distribution across multiple Indian states:

🏠 Primary State – Kerala

• Oushadhi supplies Ayurvedic medicines to all Government Hospitals, Dispensaries & Ayurvedic institutions across Kerala.
• Retail sales counters and Panchakarma Institute are located in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kannur.
• Kerala is also home to Oushadhi’s main manufacturing and cultivation units.

Other Indian States Served

Oushadhi is the exclusive supplier of Ayurvedic medicines to several government departments and public health facilities in these states:

• Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa

🛒 Retail Network

• Over 650+ authorized dealers & distributors operate throughout India.
• Medicines are available to individual customers, practitioners, and clinics via these counters and depots.

🌿 Cultivation Support Regions

Oushadhi also supports medicinal plant cultivation and herbal gardens in collaboration with:

• Schools, NGOs, Farmers in Kerala, especially Thrissur, Kannur, and Pathanapuram regions